The Simple Communication Techniques That Will Make You an Effective Leader

Communication is essential in every relationship.  Since leadership is a relationship, a failure to communicate consistently and effectively is the beginning of the end. However, just because it's critical doesn't mean most leaders are good at it. 

Some leadership skills are more critical than others for managers to master when improving productivity and performance. Research by LearnLoft indicates that relationship building, coaching, accountability, and communication are in the top four.

However, communicating is the one that all the other three meet.  You can't be an effective coach without communicating.  You can't hold someone accountable without communication skills, and you certainly can't build trust-based relationships without communicating.

However, most managers think they are effective at communication because they are fearless when talking or having a difficult conversation. That couldn't be further from the truth. The best leaders understand that effective communication isn't just about talking, it's about affecting people with your words and actions. 

Communicating isn't just about talking; it's about affecting people with your words and actions. 

Said differently, communication isn't about what you say; it's about what others do with what you say.

Effective Communication Delivers Results

It's one thing to say communication is essential; it's another to quantify its business impact.

• Leaders who communicate effectively are 50% more likely to have lower employee turnover
• Effective communication can improve productivity by up to 25%
• Companies with strong communication practices are 3.5 times more likely to outperform their peers

While lowering employee turnover, improving productivity, and outperforming the competition are all key business metrics, most leaders and companies struggle with it.  According to HBR, 69% of managers are not comfortable communicating with their employees and only 17% of employees feel their managers communicate effectively.  Clearly, communication and the communication skills of managers are a problem.  However, what makes communication as a leader challenging is often in the details. Here's an example:

Simple But Effective Communication Techniques

So it's not as easy as just saying, "Be a better communicator."  Being an effective communicator is challenging, even for people with advanced communication skills.  However, there are some simple techniques that will make you more effective. 

1. Constantly Listen and Observe

What's the best way to inspire and communicate with others? Most people would assume it's about speaking, which wouldn't be wrong. However, effective communication isn't just about speaking; it's also about listening and observing.

Effective communication isn't just about speaking but also about listening and observing.

Knowing when and how often to talk is impossible without listening to your people. There has never been a more critical time to replace your judgemental mind with your eyes and ears. One of my mentors always reminds me, "There is a reason God gave us one mouth and two ears."

One of the best ways to do this is to distinguish between hearing and listening.  You could write a whole book about the topic, but a simple way to think about the difference:

Hearing is with your ears, listening is with your mind.

Be intentional and create interactions that allow you to be present and truly listen to your people. You will be amazed at what you learn, allowing you to connect with them and inspire them better.

2. Be the "CRO"

For any leader to be an effective communicator, they must take on the role of the CRO.  Which stands for "Chief Repetition Officer."  Most managers complain about having to repeat themselves.  If this is you, stop complaining and start embracing the challenge of saying the same things in different ways to get to the hearts and minds of your people. Said differently,

The key to effective communication is impactful words and positive body language laced with passion and emotion. 

There are many things competing for your team's attention, and to assume the manager's voice is the only and most important one would be an awful assumption. Get creative, and keep communicating the most important things in slightly different ways. 

3. Remind Them of the Reason

Everybody, whether they admit it or not, wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves and do meaningful work during their lives. One of the biggest communication mistakes leaders make is forgetting to tell their team the reason "why" whatever they are saying is important. Long gone are the days where whatever you say goes.  Getting in the habit of telling people what you want them to do and why you want them to do is a communication cheat code. 

Said differently:

Leaders must constantly remind their team of the deeper reason behind their work.

If you lead a team, do not go another minute without being clear on why your team does what it does and its purpose for existence. By reminding people of the reason for their work, you'll immediately raise the ceiling of what's possible. When things get complicated (and they will), this deeper reason will give your team a reason to continue, even through the most trying times.

Closing

Being an effective communicator is a lifelong journey.  There will be times when whatever you say and do hits the mark.  There will be other times when you know you should say something, but the words just aren't there.  However, progress starts with understanding the positive and negative impacts of communication and then constantly evaluating the quantity and quality of your communication skills over time. 

Ready to Boost Your Productivity? The most important decision you make every day is what you focus on. Get the 64-Day Excellence Planner to help you stay focused on the most important things and achieve your goals.

Accelerate Leadership System Looking to turn your managers into highly effective leaders? Instead of having high expectations, now is the time to also provide a high level of support. Leverage the Accelerate Leadership System for managers in your organization. Learn more here.

Guide to Inspiring Your Employees: Want to be an inspirational leader? You can download the guide to inspire employees for free.

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About the Author John Eades is the CEO of LearnLoft, and creator of the Accelerate Leadership System. He was named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices. John is also the author of Building the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Success. You can follow him on Instagram @johngeades.