It’s not always what you say as a leader, but how you say it

One of the most essential skills for a leader is the ability to communicate professionally. It makes sense since leaders tend to spend most of their days talking along with giving numerous speeches and presentations. Leaders who understand how to communicate in motivating and inspiring ways are generally considered strong leaders.

Alright, so we all understand the power of the spoken word, but what about nonverbal messages such as one’s body language, gestures, tone of voice, or eye movements? According to several studies, we are constantly using nonverbal communications to correspond, even if we’re not speaking. Some even state that nonverbal actions are the most powerful form of communication.

If you’re surprised by that claim, let me ask you something - have you ever heard someone complain and say, “It wasn’t what they said, it’s the way they said it.”? The reason for that reaction is sometimes verbal messages get overshadowed by nonverbal cues.

Leaders must become masters of all forms of communication, no excuses. You don’t want to take a chance of customers, direct reports, and the public misunderstanding the messages you are trying to send.

Here are some nonverbal communication tips to remember:

Voice

We’re not talking about the words that are said, but rather the vocal characteristics one has, which can include tone, pitch, volume, etc. Your tone of voice is crucial; it can range from showing your enthusiasm to disinterest to annoyance. Your voice can change the meaning of words, for example, from genuine to sarcastic. Try to pay attention to how others respond to your tone of voice, and concentrate on your tone of voice when speaking.

Eyes

They say eyes are the mirrors of our souls. Whether that is true or not, eye contact is another important communication quality as it can specify interest and involvement. If you fail to look at your employees in the eyes, they might believe you are trying to hide something or have bad news to tell. On the other hand, too much eye contact is not only intimidating and uncomfortable, but just flat-out strange. Not sure of how to look at someone? Some experts recommend intervals of eye contact lasting up to 5 seconds. Go ahead, give it a try!

Facial Expressions

We all know smiling typically means you’re happy, while frowning shows your disappointment. However, if you are talking with an employee who just told you some good news, but your thoughts are elsewhere and causing you to frown, your employee is going to be pretty confused on how you feel about their news. Make sure you are truly listening when someone talks so you won’t be giving off the wrong facial expressions.

Body and Movement

You have to pay attention to how you move and carry yourself. In some cases, a person might say one thing, but their body language is saying something else. For instance, you may be slouching in a meeting just because you’re tired, but your direct reports view it as a sign of disinterest. Proper posture not only displays confidence but also trustworthiness.

To help you further develop your nonverbal skills, start observing the actions of others and how they act toward one another. It might give you some insight into how you present yourself to others.

Want to be a leader? Start acting like one.

Many employees aspire to one-day take on a leadership role. However, just because an employee wants to become a leader, it doesn’t mean that employee will automatically get promoted.



Sure, you’ve held your role at the company for quite some time and are itching to make a jump to a higher position. But before you try to make that jump, take a step back to evaluate if you are currently performing to the best of your ability. To be considered for a leadership role, you have to be extremely proficient in your current position.



Think about your problem solving skills in a team environment. Do you help your team resolve problems, or do you find yourself holding back? And if you do hold back, is it because you are afraid that if you help others, they might get ahead of you in the company?



Well, if you operate with that kind of attitude toward your team, you most likely will not become a leader.

Remember, leading others is primarily about the relationships with followers.



Aspiring leaders must demonstrate job-skill competency and establish positive relationships with other workers. In addition, they need to show they are a resourceful worker who adopts a ‘can do’ type of attitude, and works with the team toward a common goal.



Instead of viewing your co-workers as competition, focus on collaborating with your co-workers and pay attention to what they need. Learn to be open to their new ideas and promote the ideas if you feel it is worthwhile. When you lend a hand to solve problems and make valuable contributions to the team, these actions will actually help to identify you as a potential leader.



Here are some other ways to become more resourceful:



· Take a course, or attend a professional conference, to expand your technical skills. Make sure you learn and understand the basics of your trade and industry.



· Let yourself be known as an expert in certain areas and continually communicate your availability as a resource.



· Examine how you give advice when others come to you for help. Take care not to act “superior” because you know the answer.



· Identify the people in your organization who are notably creative and innovative. Spend time with them and observe how they approach problem solving by “turning problems upside down,” and “thinking out of the box.”



· Develop your communication skills to gain trust from those around you. Efficient leaders communicate well both in writing and verbally, along with demonstrating excellent listening skills.



As we mentioned earlier, if you want to be a leader, you better start acting like one.



What advice do you have for aspiring leaders and managers?

Finding your voice as a leader

I recently saw The King’s Speech and I highly recommend it. From the incredible acting to the music to the different take on a historic time – it is a fantastic film.

The film depicts the story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu accession to the throne, and Lionel the speech therapist who helped him find his voice. The king’s challenges were magnified by a stammer that caused many to perceive him as unfit to be king. After all, this was the time where charismatic leaders such as Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini used speeches to persuade large numbers of people to follow them. If the King of Britain couldn’t speak to his people, how was he expected to lead them?

The King’s journey is fascinating to watch. There are also many lessons to take from the movie, and one that stood out is how important it is for leaders to communicate effectively.

Leaders spend most of the day communicating with people – about goals, problems, operations, and ideas. Once those ideas are clear, the leader needs to communicate how to make them a reality. If a leader can form a connection through the way he or she communicates, a leader is able to accomplish a lot more.

If you tend to ramble in your written or verbal communication, and you do not articulate well your point of view – you may confuse and frustrate your subordinates. Leaders without sound communication skills will find themselves at a disadvantage.

Here are some development tips for those who need to sharpen their communication skills.

• Plan your communications. Whether written or verbal communications, first write down the points you want to make. Sequence the points, placing your main points first, followed by the supporting reasons. Do not bury your main points in the middle of a paragraph.

• To improve your presentation skills, consider joining Toastmasters, or take a public speaking or acting class. Practice your presentation in front of a mirror. Ask people for feedback about your presentation.

• To confirm that your message was clearly stated, ask your listeners to summarize what you have just said. Take this opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings; make note of what they were and how you can prevent similar misunderstandings in the future.

• Examine your organization’s materials that discuss its corporate vision, goals, and strategies and plan a staff meeting to explain how these relate to your group’s goals and objectives. Solicit feedback on your presentation style.

The ability to communicate is often taken for granted - until you see a movie like The King’s Speech that reminds you of the need for proficient communication skills in a leader.

Here’s one of the best exchanges from the movie.

King: L-listen to me…listen to me!

Lionel: Why should I waste my time listening to you?

King: Because I have a voice!

Lionel: …yes, you do.

Don’t underestimate how the power of words can positively influence the attitudes and behaviors of those you lead.