3 Steps to Improving Communication as a Leader
Communication is the lifeblood of leadership. It's what separates leadership from dictatorship or leadership styles that are too authoritarian. There are many ways to improve your communication as a leader, but here are three important ones to get you started.
Asking questions instead of telling
Of course it's important for you to tell people what they should do and how they should do it, but real improvement only occurs when people understand why they're doing something, not just how it needs to be done. Often times leaders will give an order or direction with no explanation as to why or under what circumstances the plan was created in the first place. People need context and links with past events if they're going to improve upon them so asking questions rather than telling is a great way to improve communication.
Being open about your own thoughts and feelings
We often think that when we're in meetings or talking with someone, the only thing they care about are our ideas and opinions which might not always be true. We can improve communication by giving context to our decisions, letting people know how we came up with them, why they're important to us and how it fits into the bigger picture. For example you could say "This is my plan for getting this project done on time. I was thinking of doing A because B happened over there" etc... It's helpful to let people see where you're coming from so they can better understand what you want. It'll improve trust in leadership and improve communication.
Listening to others’ opinions and perceptions
Even when you're in the middle of giving somebody directions, it's important to listen to them and understand why they think something is unnecessary or doesn't fit into their plan for the project. You could improve communication by asking them questions like "Why do you feel this isn't necessary?" or "Let me hear your thoughts on this". It's important for leaders to create an environment where people feel free enough to communicate with them so they can better understand what direction individuals want to go in.
As a leader, communication is one of the most important things you'll deal with on a day-to-day basis. Being open, empathetic and understanding can improve your relationships and improve communication.
