Continuing our series on the dimensions of leadership, this week we will discuss “communicating” and how leaders can apply this principle within their organizations. We define communicating as the following:
Connects with others effectively, in clear and thoughtful ways.
Communicating with clarity and consistency is associated with demonstrating respectful connecting methods and encouraging candid yet civil idea sharing. An effective communicator uses appropriate tone, language and verbal cues when communicating with others.
They are open and eager to share their ideas and concerns while inviting others to do the same.
The leader who communicates well greets people, spends a balanced amount of time contributing to conversations and listens actively to others. They make others feel attended to and engaged. They respect the diversity of opinions.
Leaders who score high on the Communicating dimension might:
- Use appropriate tone and verbal cues
- Use language that conveys consideration of others
- Share ideas and perspectives with others
- Voice concerns with civility
- Actively listen to the ideas of others
- Try to build on ideas rather than dismissing them
How can we determine if a leader scores high in the Communicating dimension?
A series of 4 attributes are commonly associated with the Communicating dimension. By utilizing our Legacy Leadership 360 assessment, we can determine the level that the person involved in the assessment is rated (by themselves, coworkers and peers) at the following attributes:
Candor
Leaders who speak with candor are focused on others learning important information. They choose to share, whenever possible, important data that others can benefit from. Candor keeps communication flow active and steady so misunderstanding and misjudgment can be minimized.
The leader with candor influences the achievement of goals and objectives by being clear and open with information about organizational strategies and efforts. This type of openness in communication leaves little to guess.
Tactfulness
Tactfulness is a communication competency deployed in difficult circumstances. The tactful leader is considerate of others when communicating. They know that the way a person hears a message can be as important as the words that are spoken.
The tactful leader uses discretion in communicating by showing concern for their feelings or well-being. They are insightful about upsetting or offending others.
Consistency
The leader that communicates with consistency is steady and reliable in their communications. They send consistent messages through both verbal and non-verbal communication and are positive role models for effective communication behaviors.
The consistent communicator’s intent is to keep others informed regularly and appropriately. They communicate in a way that keeps others from guessing or questioning reliability. They stay balanced emotionally, so the message doesn’t take on unwanted meaning.
Listener
The leader who is a strong listener shows respect for others. They view the opinions and perspectives of others as having value and needing a forum.
Listening requires attention and is an active event. The listening leader invests energy in understanding the viewpoints of the communicator and asks questions to seek additional clarity and understanding.
Effective leadership is key to driving business results and becoming a more effective leader starts with awareness.
The Legacy Leadership 360 assessment is a powerful tool to assess which areas require further training or coaching in order for your organization’s leaders to become more effective.
Our 360 leadership assessment is different from other individual survey tools. Designed to provide immediately actionable feedback on the dimensions and qualities most closely linked to a leader’s ability to perform effectively in their role, it leverages the latest research from both social and cognitive neuroscience. It is simple to administer, intuitively relevant and highly cost effective. Whether used in conjunction with our experienced coaches or alone with its easy-to-understand User Report, its impact and value for your current and emerging leaders will be immediate.
If you are interested in furthering the development of the leaders within your organization, we encourage you to email or call us at 888-892-0300.
