The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Communication

We continue our learning and growing with the lessons contained in John C. Maxwell’s book titled The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. This book carries the subtitle: "Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow".

Everything rises and falls on leadership. And leadership truly develops from the inside out. If you can become the leader you ought to be on the inside, you will be able to become the leader you want to be on the outside. People will want to follow you.

Quality #4 - Communication: Without it you travel alone.

“Developing excellent communication skills is absolutely essential to effective leadership.  The leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others.  If a leader can't get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn't matter."

Even if you don't have your sights set on leading the country, ... , you still need to possess the ability to communicate.  The success of your marriage, job, and personal relationships depends greatly on it.  People will not follow you if they don't know what you want or where you are going.

You can be a more effective communicator if you follow four basic truths:

1. Simplify Your Message
   1. Communication is not just what you say.  It's also how you say it.
   2. Contrary to what some educators teach, the key to effective communication is simplicity.
   3. Napoleon Bonaparte used to tell his secretaries, "Be clear, be clear, be clear."
2. See the Person
   1. Effective communicators focus on the people with whom they're communicating.
   2. They know it is impossible to effectively communicate to an audience without knowing something about them.
   3. As you communicate with people - whether individuals or groups - ask yourself these questions:
   1. Who is my audience?
   2. What are their questions?
   3. What needs to be accomplished?
   4. How much time do I have?
3. Show the Truth
   1. Credibility precedes great communication.
   2. There are two ways to convey credibility to your audience.
   1. First, believe in what you say.
   2. Second, live what you say.
   3. There is no greater credibility than conviction in action.
4. Seek a Response
   1. As you communicate, never forget that the goal of all communication is action.
   2. Every time you speak to people, give them something to feel, something to remember, and something to do


“A leader must get things done through  others, therefore the leader must have the ability to inspire and motivate, guide and direct, and listen. It's only through communication that the leader is able to cause others to internalize his or her vision and implement it." - Danto Manquez Jr., President of MVM, Inc.

Bringing it home:


1. Be clear as a bell. 
   1. To a communicator, your best friends are simplicity and clarity.
2. Refocus your attention.
   1. Meet people where they are, and you will be a better communicator.
3. Live your message.
   1. Purpose to make changes in your life to be more consistent.
   
   
Learning and growing together!

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc