We love to share ideas from thought leaders and bestselling authors that dovetail with Dardis principles. In his new book “Beyond the Hammer,” which we introduced in our last newsletter, business leader Brian Gottlieb writes about “ripple effect communication” – how a leader’s communication style reverberates throughout the workplace, for better or worse. (In the case of worse, he notes, 60 percent of Americans have left a job simply to get away from a manager.)
In the book, he outlines 5 ways to communicate positively.
1. Be Present
Listen attentively, show genuine interest in their comments and be open-minded. Show that you’re “all in.”
2. Stay True to Your Word
If you make a statement, it should be true. If you make a commitment, you should keep it. “Many people, when faced with disappointing someone, will overcommit in the moment and then not be able to deliver on that commitment,” Gottlieb writes.
3. Watch Your Body Language
“Your physical presence is a powerful tool to show that you are interested and open to what people have to say,” Gottlieb writes. (We’ve been teaching this for decades!) Pay attention to those non-verbal cues. Are your arms crossed? Is your expression unreceptive? Are you fiddling with your phone?
4. Be Clear
Communicate with clarity. Are you floating an idea or proposing a change in policy? Are you issuing a call to action with clear expectations? Express yourself with precision and clarify yourself whenever necessary.
5. Express Your Intent
What’s your goal for a conversation or meeting? When you express this in advance, everything goes better. A decision-making meeting requires that a leader drives participation, asks good questions and ensures that every team member is heard. An information-sharing meeting, on the other hand, is often needed to explain a change and address the reasons and benefits.
Combined, these five factors help a leader communicate well, sending out a positive “echo,” as Gottlieb puts it. “When you have an organization where leaders and managers are aware of their echo and communicate effectively, your culture will be stronger and your business will be better because of it,” he writes. “You will not only attract more top talent, but you will retain them too because the reverb of your echo will reveal itself in the satisfaction, productivity and commitment of those on your team.”