Great leaders are always open to communicate.
One of the most common complaints
about poor leadership is lack of communication. It is also very important to
remember that communication is a twoway street: Listening is every bit as
important as speaking or writing.
It is also crucial to remember to communicate in good times and in bad. A
leader that goes into hiding when things
are not going well (something that is
likely to happen with every business
every once in a while) is not going to be
a popular leader. In fact, excellent leadership is often more closely associated
with handling with adversity rather than
with handling with success.
For Bird, a leader with strong communication skills is someone who
“connects with as many staff and customers as possible and being available
even when it’s inconvenient.”
Communication also means providing staff with regular feedback, not just
giving a performance review every six
months: “When people feel appreciated,
their work performance increases in efficiency and productivity. Giving your
team necessary feedback will help to
boost confidence and could also help to
address concerns in a timely manner,”
says Moore. Good leaders should also
encourage feedback about their own per-
WHAT YOU
CAN DO
EVERY DAY:
formance, not just give it to their
employees.
A simple yet highly effective way to
communicate with staff members more
effectively is to inquire, politely of
course, about what is going on in their
lives. Knowing (and understanding) that
a staff member is under stress due to a
home sale or the illness of a relative is
an easy way to provide the kind of
empathetic leadership that is greatly
appreciated.
Communicate, with someone, anyone, in a way
that expands your communication experience.
Have a conversation with a staff member who you
don’t know very well and make sure you listen as
much as you talk.
“When people feel appreciated, their work performance
increases in efficiency and productivity. Giving
your team necessary feedback will help to boost
confidence and could also help to address concerns
in a timely manner.”
MIRANDA MOORE • Spa Director • Island Currents Spa at Sonora Resort
November 2015
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