How To Exhibit Leadership Communication Skills
Employees in leadership positions must regularly practice effective communication skills with their teams to be successful. Displaying strong leadership communication skills can foster trust, instill motivation and help team members be as productive as possible. In this article, we provide some examples of leadership communication skills, show how to improve them and explain how you can demonstrate them in the hiring process.
Why are leadership communication skills important?
Leadership communication skills form clear connections among team members, fostering a stronger sense of community. From communicating with team members to keeping executives up to date on daily operations, leaders must be able to effectively communicate in a variety of ways with all types of people.
Leadership communication skills are important because they:
Promote collaboration among team members and between teams
Ensure communication channels between team members and managers remain open and effective
Make sure team members clearly understand their responsibilities
Increase the productivity of team members
Help employees remain focused on goals and outcomes
Examples of leadership communication skills
The following are a few leadership communication skills that can make you a more effective leader when practiced in the workplace:
Active listening
Storytelling
Adaptability
Motivation
Open-mindedness
Empathy
Delegation
Positivity
Awareness
Nonverbal communication
Active listening
Active listening is a person's ability to focus entirely on the individual speaking and to comprehend what they say. Active listening means that you retain what someone tells you and understand the message they are relaying. Through active listening, you are able to provide valuable responses and ensure your team members feel understood and heard when they speak with you.
Storytelling
Storytelling is an effective way to build trust, make connections and inspire others to respond to what you say. Types of storytelling skills include delivering value propositions, establishing a mission and empowering others.
Adaptability
Not everyone in the workplace communicates in the same way, and good leaders must be able to adapt to meet the different types of communication that their team members prefer. Being adaptable allows you to adjust your communication to ensure that each team member understands you and that you understand them.
Motivation
Good leaders know how to motivate their teams through communication. It's important to understand what motivates your team members and use this knowledge in your communication with them.
Open-mindedness
Being open-minded is an important component of practicing effective leadership communication skills. Open-mindedness allows you to hear what others say without trying to change their beliefs or thoughts. This helps you fully understand what they communicate and allows you to make educated decisions.
Empathy
Practicing empathy allows team members to be more receptive to your message. Empathy also helps you understand how employees feel and respond to their needs. Practice transparency and authenticity when communicating with your team members to build trust.
Delegation
Delegating tasks clearly is an essential part of effective leadership communication. Take time to explain to team members why you chose them for a particular task and what you expect of them. Many people like to know what they are doing and why, and giving your team members this information can further motivate them to be as productive as possible.
Positivity
Communicating in a positive manner can have a large impact on the overall morale of your team and how they receive your message. Speaking and acting positively can set an example for your employees and encourage them to do the same within the workplace.
Awareness
People can communicate using body language, reactions and facial expressions. The more aware you are as a leader, the more you will be able to pick up on reactions and body language within your team and respond to them.
Nonverbal communication
Leaders must also know how to effectively communicate nonverbally. Nonverbal communication includes body language, facial expressions and actions. Practice matching your nonverbal communication to your verbal communication. Stand up straight and make eye contact while speaking to convey positive, confident communication.
How to improve leadership communication skills
The following are steps you can take to improve your leadership communication skills:
Have a purpose for your communication. Before you speak or send correspondence, make sure you have a clear goal so your message stays focused.
Make sure your team members fully understand your agenda. Explain the objective of the conversation so your team members understand their responsibilities and what you expect of them.
Choose your words carefully. Each word you use should have a specific purpose for a more straightforward message. Think before you speak, and reread and written communication before you send it.
Eliminate fillers from your vocabulary. Reducing fillers, such as "um," can make you seem more confident and composed when you speak. If you need to, you can take a short pause before completing a thought instead of filling the space.
Leadership communication skills in the workplace
Here are six steps to help you communicate effectively as a leader:
Clearly define goals for each team member.
Be proactive.
Streamline your method of communication with your team.
Stay in constant contact with your team.
Set deadlines and follow up.
Clearly define goals for each team member
Clear expectations are essential to help keep employees on track and motivated to accomplish their tasks. Take time to ensure each team member knows what they are responsible for and have the appropriate resources to achieve these goals. Ways you can set expectations for team members include creating a shared calendar of tasks for each employee, setting up a method for keeping track of progress and offering regular feedback based on work completed.
Be proactive
When you're proactive, you can anticipate the needs of employees who require help to complete their duties. The more proactive you are, the more smoothly your team can operate and the fewer problems you are likely to encounter. Ways to be proactive include ensuring team members are aware of their responsibilities ahead of time, knowing when employees plan to take time off so you can prepare and planning ahead of time for any delays or issues your team may find while working on a project.
Streamline your method of communication with your team
When managing a team, it's essential that you streamline communications by relying on one or a few methods of communication. Several platforms are available that allow teams to communicate regularly. If you haven't done so already, select the platforms most appropriate for your team's needs, and ensure all team members are aware of how to use them. Make sure all employees use the same programs so it's easier to communicate quickly.
Stay in constant contact with your team
Maintaining contact with your team members can help boost productivity and remind them that they are accountable for their responsibilities. Make it a goal to connect with each of your team members at least once or twice a week if possible. You can do this through individual meetings or in a group meeting that includes all team members. These meetings do not have to be extensive. Instead, focus on showing your team members you care about their work and are relying on them to complete their tasks.
Set deadlines and follow up
If your team works on projects that have specific deadlines, ensure all team members are aware of the timelines. Consider creating a shareable document with each team member's name and the deadlines associated with their tasks. Team members can check off their tasks as they complete them, which gives you a real-time view of what they have finished and what they still need to do. Make it a point to follow up with team members who need help to meet their deadlines, and work with them to develop a plan to increase productivity.
How to highlight leadership communication skills
When applying for a leadership position, it's important to highlight your leadership communication skills in a way that catches the attention of hiring managers. Here are ways you can do that in your resume and cover letter and during the interview:
Highlighting leadership communication skills in a cover letter and resume
Use the skills section of your resume to list specific leadership communication abilities you possess that are relevant to the job you are applying for. You can list these skills under a subheading such as "communication skills" and use a bulleted list. Include your communication skills throughout the work experience section of your resume by listing duties that required you to use leadership communication skills.
Your cover letter in itself is a great way to highlight your communication skills since it's a form of written communication. Write clearly and concisely and use positive and professional language. Ensure all spelling and grammar is correct before sending it to the hiring manager.
Highlighting leadership communication skills in an interview
Similar to a cover letter, an interview is a great opportunity to demonstrate your leadership communication skills. How you answer interview questions can convey your ability to effectively communicate. Choose your words wisely, and avoid using filler words in your answers. Practice interviewing with a friend or family member to get feedback on your responses and to refine any areas you feel unsure about.