What’s a great leader greatness skill? The first skill that should come to mind is being a great communicator. If though more open, communication is the most important skill in history, from a simple exchange between friends to stopping a war. Communication is an unreserved power that allows anyone to inspire or discourage, to learn or disregard and to understand or misinterpret through its three different forms. Hence, why it’s a skill that most always be improved upon.
While, most people only think about verbal speaking as communication, 93% of all communication is nonverbal. What you wear has a lot of impressions, what kind of person you are perceived to be, for example, if MLK wore tracksuits instead of suits to his speeches it would greatly diminish the power of his words showing he’s not serious about his speech and he wouldn’t have been as successful in conveying his message. Furthermore, a leader having proper body language and behaviour showcases confidence in what a leader is saying or doing. Additionally, good leader should be able to recognize visual cues in peers or teammates like a blank stare or nodding if they’re talking to identify if there’s a lack of understanding and try to resolve the issue. In addition to that, listening to others is also important because makes other words, feel more important to what they’re doing.
On another note, verbal communication is also important because choosing the right words based on who you’re talking to can propel the success of the team or downfall of it for instance generation X are used to a more direct approach when getting directives compared to generation Z who prefer a brokering approach when getting directives.so
To summarize communication is a leader’s skill that always need to be worked on because it’s always evolving with generations and how you choose to communicate dictates if you’re a successful leader or not.
https://kidslink.co.nz/why-are-good-communication-skills-important/
https://ubiquity.acm.org/article.cfm?id=2043156
I really like your article Cole! i agree with you on how communication is the most important skill that a leader has. your article emphasized more the value that communication skills can bring to the table and pointing out others ways that a person can communicate just teach us how diversified a message can be translate. Good job on it!
Thanks Fodé, I’m glad we share the same sentiment on the topic. How do you think communication, could be different in the future,
Hi Cole,
I really enjoyed reading your article, specifically the part when you give the example of how communication is majoritively non-verbal, elaborating on how if MLK wore a tracksuit instead of a traditional suit, his speech wouldn’t have had the same impact. Now that times are changing and the meaning of « professionalism » is straying farther away from the rigid traditional model, do you think that our leaders still have to uphold the old standard of what society used to deem professional in order to be respected?
Hi Aimee,
I think leaders need to be adaptable and do what the group needs of them.If being less professional gets the best from the grouips members then so be it if it’s the opposite then do that.But based on my experience professionalism is like a invisible wall that seperates work from pleasure.
Hey Cole,
I also believe that communication is one of the most essential traits in a leader. At least in positions of leadership, oftentimes, strong communication skills can be valued over knowledge or physical capability. One thing that makes communication even more valuable is the fact that it is relatively hard to teach or learn. What do you think an aspiring leader could consider doing or working on, in order to master the art of communication?
Cathlin
Hi Cathlin,
The best way to improve your communication is by practicing and the only way to practice is by talking to people. Not everyone will respond to what you say in the manner and by having different experiences that’s how you improve. Additionally, observing how people’s bodies react to what you is all so important. But essentially experience is the best teacher.
Interesting article Cole!
I’m on your side when it comes to choosing a most important leadership trait. I think that being able to communicate in both verbal and non verbal ways could be the most important trait as it comes into play in every life scenario. I particularly loved how you also specified the divers ways of communicating, because it seems that not many people understand that communication is not just speaking.
Encompassing many leadership traits, being able to communicate is one of the most important traits when it comes to problem solving in particular, which is is another top leadership trait. Thus, I wonder, how do you think being able to communicate helps solve problems? Do you think that people who are not good communicators find themselves in more conflicts than those who are more capable of communicating?
Hi Abir,
Being a good communicator help tremendously in problem solving.Good communicators solve their problems and prevent them by trying to understand the persons point out view.In comparison to bad communicators who only temporarily subdue the issue which makes them more likely to have similar problems occur in the future.