Testing 1,2,3… How Leaders Can Communicate More Clearly
Once, when my daughter was five years old, she attempted to play a trick on me.
Her plan was to try to get me to look up at the ceiling at something imaginary and when I did, she would tickle my neck.
Knowing what she was trying to do, I tickled her instead, laughed and said, “you have to get up pretty early in the morning to trick your Daddy!”
The next morning, I woke up before dawn as I usually do, and found my daughter sitting in my recliner.
When I asked her why in the world she was already up, she said, “You told me I had to get up early in the morning to trick you, so I did!”
I then had to try to explain that I didn’t really mean she had to get up early in the morning…
This is a great example of what sometimes happens to leaders when trying execute their plans.
Leadership And Communication
Often times, we give instructions to our team or staff and it makes perfect sense to us. After all, we’ve been planning and thinking about all the details for days, weeks or months.
But, sometimes when we roll out our grand ideas, we get “deer-in-the-headlight” looks, or, even results that were “not exactly” what we had pictured when we set out to implement the plan.
As leaders, we need to be certain that we’re communicating exactly what we expect so that the team can execute the plan as precisely as possible.
Find Other Ears To Listen
Realize that your team can NOT read your mind. So, YOU need to take time to hear the message through different ears.
This is sometimes difficult for leaders who want to receive all the credit for any successes they have. This is where a leader has to care more about the successful execution of the plan, more than they care about any credit they receive. If the team wins, everyone wins.
Run your idea by people you can trust to give honest and unbiased feedback. Pay attention to how they receive the idea.
Maybe the idea is perfect. But most likely, you will be making some revisions based on feedback from these trusted individuals.
By viewing the plan from different perspectives, you may also be able to more clearly explain it, as well as answer many of the questions that may arise as you begin the implementation phase.
Once you’ve communicated the plan to your entire team, you need to be sure they are seeing it the way you have envisioned it. Be clear about what success looks like, so your team members can know when they get there. It needs to be as clear their minds as it is in yours.
By taking these preliminary steps, you will ensure a better understanding by your team of what you are trying to communicate, and in turn, have a much higher chance of success!
