Motivation on the Run

Communication is a critical component in leadership and without good communication, no one can follow. I believe that someone that can not communicate can not lead.

One of the most important communications a leader must convey is his vision. He must be capable of painting a picture of the future that is clear, concise and inspiring. If there is confusion over the message, the future of a business is at risk.

While this doesn’t have to be a company mission statement, it does need to give everyone a clear understanding of the direction they are taking to arrive at the expected place. One of the problem is we communicate with ‘fuzzy’ communications and those with whom we are speaking go away shaking their heads because they don’t have a clue what is expected of them.

Communications from a leader needs to be Clear, Concise and Inspiring, but not necessarily verbal, if it meets the above guidelines.

What kind of picture do you paint? Think about your directions to employees. When you finish, do they know exactly what you expect? How do you know? Have you asked? Are you sure?

Do you frequently have to repeat instructions or directions? Upon completion of a task, do you often see results that are not what you expected? Do you spend a lot of time explaining what you mean? Are projects frequently late because they have to be done over?

If you answered yes to any of these question, you may have a communication problem. Be honest with yourself and seek help if needed.

Remember, communication is a learned skill, so make the effort to learn.