Improving your leadership communication

“A CLASSIC IS SOMETHING EVERYONE WANTS TO HAVE READ, BUT NO ONE WANTS TO READ.”

~ MARK TWAIN

BOHN’S COROLLARY: COMMUNICATION IS SOMETHING EVERY ORGANIZATION WANTS, BUT FEW WANT TO DO.

~ DR. JIM BOHN

How effective is your leadership communication right now?

Why do Leaders perceive communication is happening?

Your opportunity to fill in the blank …

When people do not understand each other, what happens?

People make mistakes, and mistakes can be costly to a business.

When people do not understand each other, what happens?

People also become frustrated with one another, and thusPoint fingers Lay blame Argue

When people do not understand each other, what happens?

Ineffective communication causes rumors and gossip.

Ineffective communications ultimately lead to fear through uncertainty.

Ineffective communication stifles energy and leads to low productivity - more time spent on people struggles than output.

Costly rework!

When people do not understand each other, what happens?

Ineffective communication causes rumors and gossip.

Ineffective communications ultimately lead to fear through uncertainty.

Ineffective communication stifles energy and leads to low productivity - more time spent on people struggles than output.

Costly rework!

When people do not understand each other, what happens?

Ineffective communication causes rumors and gossip.

Ineffective communications ultimately lead to fear through uncertainty.

Ineffective communication stifles energy and leads to low productivity - more time spent on people struggles than output.

Costly rework!

When people do not understand each other, what happens?

Ineffective communication causes rumors and gossip.

Ineffective communications ultimately lead to fear through uncertainty.

Ineffective communication stifles energy and leads to low productivity - more time spent on people struggles than output.

Costly rework!

When people do not understand each other, what happens?

Ineffective communication causes rumors and gossip.

Ineffective communications ultimately lead to fear through uncertainty.

Ineffective communication stifles energy and leads to low productivity - more time spent on people struggles than output.

Costly rework!

Examples of poor communication:

Misunderstood goals – “Where are we going?

Misunderstood definitions – “What is ‘Deployment’”?

Misunderstood instructions – “How are we going to do that?”

Communication Methods

Method Risks Benefits

Email

Face-to-face

Conference Calls

Posters

Speeches

Dangerous assumption …

Executives are especially vulnerable to the belief that their words and concepts will be carried out, largely because of positional power in their organizations.

People expect their orders will be obeyed

DICTATOR

People assume communication has

occurred

DELEGATOR

A forgetfulness that executives have been discussing something for a long

time, yet expect others to adapt immediately, as if they had been part

of the conversation.

BLIND SPOT

Continuum of communication risk …

EXTREMES

Barriers to good communication and why?

Speed of processing

Sound bytesLack of patienceClarity of senderChecking for

reception

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMMUNICATOR

Barriers to good communication and why?

Timing of communication

Physical space of communication

LOGISITICS OF COMMUNICATION

Barriers to good communication and why?

Highest needs for communication often occur at the lowest point in the project.

THE CRITICAL MOMENT

Dropping the ball in communication

People get reassigned – without a successor!

People get bored, tired, disinterested – especially on conference calls. You can always slow me down, but it's tough to speed me up.

What’s goin’ on?  

"Need to know basis" is so passé.

What’s goin’ on?  All communications provides a context for decision making, allow people to sort things out among competing priorities.

“What do I need to do to support the organization?”

What’s goin’ on?  

All communication provides a context for prioritization.

“What do I need to do to support the organization?”Danger if this isn’t done. Reasons it isn't done.As a leader, you need to develop effective

ways for getting it done.

What’s goin’ on?  

People will fill __ the blanks.

SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION ACTIONS

Coordination of activities - getting people together takes effort, clear focus, and clear agendas.

1

SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION ACTIONS

Knowledge of the future – “People expect leaders in this business to know where they’re going.”  

2

SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION ACTIONS

Knowledge of roles (who’s on first?)

3

SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION ACTIONS

Knowledge of what has happened? So people can feel a sense of efficacy, movement and momentum.

4

SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION ACTIONS

Knowledge of victories - To allow the emotional sense of achievement and build efficacy for the next project.

5

SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION ACTIONS

Coordination of activities - getting people together takes effort, clear focus, clear agendas.

Knowledge of the future – “People here expect leaders in this business to know where they’re going.”  

Knowledge of roles (who’s on first?) Knowledge of what has happened? So people can

feel a sense of efficacy, movement and momentum. Knowledge of victories - To allow the emotional

sense of achievement and build efficacy for the next project.

How effective is your leadership communication right now?

Pro/AxiosWe offer plainspoken

guidance for those who do the work.

Check out the Rapid Diagnostic @ www.ProAxios.com

info@proaxios.com

651-302-1574

Minneapolis, MN, USA

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Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation