LEADERSHIP &

COMMUNICATION
By Saki T. Nikodemus

A Leader is Communicator

Note:
Communication is the most important skill in
life;
We spend most of our times communicating,
i.e. reading, writing, speaking and listening;
Effective communication is more than the
transfer of information;
Great leaders are always great communicators.

A great leader is skilled in two kinds of communication:

Personal Conversation;
Public Speaking;

Note:
Great leaders are always good communicators
with both large and small gatherings.
They inspire enthusiasm, loyalty and sacrifice
with their words.

Core Principles in Effective Leadership Communication:

Objectives: Be clear about what you want

you achieve.
Empathy: Understanding the situation from
the other persons point of view, without
judgement.
Rapport: Leader must have a good rapport
with his staff.

The 3 Vs
There are three key tools that we have for transmitting and
receiving messages, known collectively as the 3 Vs, i.e.
visual, vocal and verbal.

1. VISUAL: High Impact:

Refers to the part of the message that enters the brain
via the eyes and generally accounts for the largest
portion of the message that is received and retained.
During face-to-face communication, the visual message is
transmitted through facial expression, eye contact and
body language.
In leadership, face-to-face communication is important to
ensure visual component.

3 Vs cont
2. VOCAL: Medium Impact:
This refers to the tone, pitch, volume and pace
of your voice and has a medium impact in
terms of how much of the message is received
and retained.
Note: Its not what you say, but how you say it.
When combined with visual communication it
can account for up to 90% of the message, but
when used in isolation, e.g. the telephone, the
impact reduces significantly.

3 Vs cont
3. VERBAL: Low Impact:
These are the actual words that we use to
communicate.
Words, when used in isolation, have limited
impact and often do not carry the message
as intended.
Need to be used in conjunction with the
other components.

THE 80 / 20 Rule

Spend 80% of time listening, and 20% of

time talking.
When communicating with your staff, it is
very easy to break the 80 / 20 rule. This is
because you will have your own ideas on
what needs to be done, how it is to be done
and when it needs to be done.
This rule is more effective in shared
leadership style than autocratic leadership.

THE SECRET TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS EFFECTIVE

LISTENING SKILLS

Consider the following fact:

We spend years learning how to read and
write, and years learning how to speak.
But what about listening? What training or
education have you had that enables you to
listen so that you really, deeply understand
human being from that individuals own
frame of reference?

Effective Communication skills

cont
In order to communicate with someone, you
first need to understand the individual;
Our characters are constantly
communicating, our conduct and behavior,
e.g. your actions are so loud, I cant hear
your words.
Learn the secret to listen with both eyes
and ears, i.e. peoples body language and
facial expression;

Effective Communication Skills

cont
If someone looks confused, they probably
are. So seek to clarify the situation.
If someone looks like they disagree with
you, invite their objection and discuss the
issue;
If someone looks like they have something
to say, invite their opinion and contribution.

When Listening, Always Remember

Listen to what people are actually saying;

Assess the underlying meaning behind the
message;
Listen to what they are not saying;
Things that people avoid talking about often
highlight lack of understanding or appreciation of
the issues.
Most people do not listen with the intent to
understand ; they listen with the intent to reply.
They are either speaking, or preparing to speak.

Practical Skills for Effective Communication

Have genuine concern for the people you

are talking to;
Be aware of the capacity of the people to
receive what you are saying;
Make sure to set people at ease;
Use repetition when necessary for effective
communication;
Develop a captivating speaking style;
Dont shout to your audience;

Practical Communication Skills

cont
Fit the message to the audience;
Stay focused on the message;
Impart passion / enthusiasm;
Tell relevant stories;
Add humour;
Reinforce import aspects by pausing or
silence

When Delivering /
Communicating
Always bear in mind to:

Maintain eye contact;

Speaking position;
Pacing;
Table or Podium;
Posture;
Body language;

Major Distractions in
Communication
What not to do:

Fold hands behind the speakers back or

front;
Trouser pockets;
Play with keys or coins;
Pick nose, pull an ear lobe or scratch
backside;
Fiddle with a ring or pen;

Avoiding Bad Habits during Communication

Self-importance;
Smoking and alcohol;
Too many figures;
Jargon;
Talking down;
Dirty jokes;
Never lose control of your cool;

THE END!
Thank you