Effective leadership depends on strong communication skills. While many leaders are eloquent speakers, being a great orator is a skill that must be refined. Ronald Reagan, known for his storytelling skills, was a trained actor. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. strengthened his inspirational abilities as a church leader. Similarly, Bill Clinton mastered eye contact, enhancing his ability to engage and connect with audiences. Although being an inspiring speaker may seem like an innate talent, it is a skill that must be honed and practiced.
For Warren Buffet, one of the most successful businessmen in the world, successfully communicating was not always easy for him. When he was in high school and college, he was so afraid to speak that he would throw up prior to having to give a presentation in class and would often cut class to avoid having to speak. Then when he graduated from college, he wanted to address this fear, so he enrolled in a Dale Carnegie class, which he said changed his life.
Buffet tells graduating MBA students, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, “Invest in yourself and hone your communication skills- both written and verbal. It is the one easy way to become worth at least 50 percent more than you are now.” His advice is backed by research done by the Carnegie Institute of Technology, which found 85 percent of a person’s success comes from their ability to effectively communicate, negotiate, and lead when speaking and listening.
Even if you have excellent financial skills and insights, your success depends on your ability to clearly and concisely communicate your ideas. Being an effective communicator is the key to your success and ineffective communication can be your biggest downfall. Did you know that most CFOs do not see communication as their strong suit, even though they spend at least half of every workday communicating with colleagues or clients in a variety of formats; face-to-face, virtually, or in writing? And most effective leaders realize they must continually be honing and refining this skill to build trust, inspire action, and drive results.
Remember: it takes three seconds to make a first impression. However, a first impression only gets your foot in the door. It does not maintain a relationship or keep others engaged. Therefore, it is important to continually make great ‘first impressions,’ whether you are summarizing a risk proposal, presenting a strategic plan, or outlining the budget. How you communicate affects how others view and value you, whether you are speaking to on the phone, via Zoom or in-person. Are you smiling, maintaining eye contact, and actively listening?
Dynamic communication skills enhance your performance across all aspects of your professional responsibilities. Organizations depend on your knowledge and expertise and expect you to communicate in such a way that others can easily understand the data and nuances of your reports. Being an effective communicator is the best way to build trust, demonstrate transparency, and collaborate with all stakeholders.
At the heart of effective communication is also the ability to be an active listener and to understand the perspective of others in your organization. To paraphrase Lee Iacocca, a visionary automaker who led Ford and Crysler, “You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.” Iacocca honed his speaking skills as a member of his high school debate team and then by taking a Dale Carnegie course. Again, he wasn’t born a great communicator and had to hone and practice his skills.
Although we think of speech as verbal communication, it includes the verbal, vocal, and nonverbal components of what is said. Effective communicators understand listening is the flipside of talking and that both are crucial to ensuring intended messages are both received and understood. Research has shown that unless verbal, vocal and non-verbal communication all send the same message, words are only about 10% of a message. If there is a disconnect then the listener will put more value on tone, volume, and body language than the words said.
To ensure your message will be understood and remembered focus on what you are going to say and how you are going to say it! Keep in mind that although words are an important part of any message, unless the words and the vocal and nonverbal aspects of the message are the same, the listener focuses and remembers what was said nonverbally rather than verbally, leading to the sending of unintended messages. Think of the power of a smile and a handshake; these non-verbal actions send a strong message even before a word is uttered.
Your colleagues’ familiarity with your area of expertise is far less developed than your own. While they bring valuable skills and knowledge to conversation, they may not fully understand the terminology, shorthand, or implications behind the visuals you present. That is why it is essential to take the time to break down the information and recommendations into manageable parts. Colleagues may not ask questions because they are unsure what questions to ask, therefore, be proactive, anticipate questions, and answer them before they are asked.
The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion it has taken place. Speak clearly and concisely, use sentences that are easy to follow by avoiding jargon and abbreviations, and remember the Rule of Three. Our brains are hard-wired and after hearing three facts or details, a fourth item tends to cause our brain to forget everything!
To ensure others remember what you say, focus on clear communication. Enunciate your words, use short, structured sentences, and avoid jargon and abbreviations. The words you emphasize can significantly change the meaning of your message. For example, saying “Tell ME what you are thinking” puts the focus on yourself, while “Tell me what YOU are thinking” shifts the focus to theother person.Successful communication relies on making your message easy to understand and remember.
Meaningful conversations are crucial to all relationships and lead to trust. When sharing your expertise, advice, or insights, engage in conversations rather than delivering a monologue. The more transformational the conversation is the more likely your input will be both received and valued. The key is to simultaneously tell your perspective and ask others to share theirs.
In conclusion, mastering effective communication skills is not just a desirable skill, it is an imperative one. As highlighted by accomplished and respected leaders like Reagon, King, Clinton, and Buffet, being an effective communicator is not an innate skill, but can be learned and perfected. Whether delivering compelling speeches, authoring persuasive reports, or engaging in meaningful conversations, being able to communicate clearly and concisely is fundamental for success.
Invest in your professional success by dedicating time and effort to honing and refining your communication skills. Take them to the next level! Whether you are a CFO, CEO, or senior leader, strong communication skills enable you to build trust, promote transparency, and foster collaboration. Effective communication shapes perceptions, enhances understanding, and drives meaningful change within organizations- making it a critical tool for leadership success.
