Keep that leadership wheel turning
I love reading, studying, and practicing leadership principles. Leadership textbooks tend to cover the classic leadership-related topics, and books in the popular press provide new insights from fresh and unique perspectives. I also enjoy reading scholarly research on leadership so I can consider how the tried-and-true concepts, scholarly conclusions, and practical perspectives intersect or diverge with one another and with my own experiences.
From years of study and experience, I have observed the power of a leader with effective communication skills, as well as the impact of leadership with poor communication. The leader may be at any level of the organization, not just the top. At times, I have been that effective leader, and I have been that ineffective leader, but in both situations, communication was the key to success or failure.
I’m fairly certain I drove my colleagues crazy with my somewhat constant question at the end of meetings, “what do we need to communicate?” One day, a colleague lightheartedly asked the question, “what would be the ONE solution that ‘so-and-so' would provide as a solution to any problem?” There were some funny answers that hit pretty close to home for each of my friends. When it was my turn, the group said, “Allison would say communication!” Yes. Yes, I would.
I recently googled “most popular leadership topics,” and communication was present on most of the lists. Although a bit dated, I enjoyed reading the HR Daily Advisor’s survey results of leadership coaching professionals and the areas in most need of development in leaders. There are separate lists for the different levels of organizational leadership. Just add the remote/hybrid work perspective to this list, and it would be somewhat updated for 2022. Note that communication skills are on every list.
So here is my perspective on the relationship of communication and leadership: Effective communication is the linchpin for effective leadership.
What is a linchpin?
Consider a wheel...it has spokes that connect the center of the wheel to its circumference. In the center of the wheel is the linchpin which keeps the wheel from slipping off its axel. If you want the wheel to turn, you need the linchpin to remain in place, and you need most of the spokes to hold. Notice I said, “most of the spokes.” A spoke may break, but the other spokes may be strong enough to hold the entire wheel together. If the linchpin slips, then all you have is a wheel that is unable to function properly.
As you have probably figured out, the wheel is leadership, and the spokes supporting leadership are those common leadership skills. Here are some possible “spokes” for our “leadership wheel:”
Casting vision and strategic direction
Leading change
Delegating
Leading teams
Conflict resolution
Time management
Motivation and influence
Fostering employee well-being
Emotional intelligence/self-awareness
An effective leader does not have to have ALL of these spokes, but that leader needs some of these spokes to be strong, allowing the wheel to take shape and have the strength to roll. But what is the linchpin? What is the skill that, if absent, prevents the wheel from turning?
While some people consider communication to be a type of interpersonal skill, I maintain it is much more than that. Communication is the linchpin. Consider how helpful those spokes are without some communication supporting them.
A clearly developed vision and strategy is useless unless it’s communicated to those individuals who are responsible for implementing it.
Change will be misunderstood and resented when it is not accompanied by supporting communication.
Teams will be fractured, and members will be unsure of their roles, if the team leader fails to communicate expectations and responsibilities.
In the absence of effective communication, conflicts will not only be unresolved, they will multiply.
Motivating and supporting employees requires constant communication with a variety of communication channels, and progress in these areas can be undermined quickly with one poorly worded communication.
Leaders may manage and protect their time well, but if boundaries and expectations are not communicated, then followers may misinterpret their presence or absence.
Leaders need the self-awareness to know when they have hurt feelings, been insensitive, crossed a line, or damaged a relationship, and the ability to communicate with sensitivity is a necessary skill.
As a leader, if you have a “spoke” that needs strengthening, then let’s make a plan to help you develop that skill. We will make sure that plan includes a communication aspect.
However, if you are finding that your spokes are weak overall, or your leadership wheel just doesn’t seem to want to turn, then there may be a common issue. The good news is – that common issue has a solution: effective communication. Reach out to ABL Wise today. Let’s get that wheel turning.
