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Top 10 Ways for Leaders to Communicate Clearly

Communication is the primary skill of leaders. In fact for senior leaders you could say it is almost all that they do. They need to communicate to a wide range of stakeholders in large groups and one-to-one. Use the following tips for successful leadership communications in many different circumstances. Consider how consistently you currently follow each of these tips in all your leadership communications. 

1. Know the primary purpose of your communication. A specific communication could be primarily:

   • To build trust, rapport or mutual support

   • To get input, an answer or a response

   • To create understanding, to explain or to teach

   • To recognize, appreciate or support efforts or results

   • To correct or enhance efforts or results

   • To initiate actions

   When you know your primary purpose in communicating, you can consciously design your communications to achieve your purpose. 

2. Express your main point in one clear statement. Clarity is power. 

3. Organize your points into sub-points using a hierarchical structure. With a clear structure, your points are easier to understand and remember. This structure also makes it easier for you to re-use your points in different situations. 

4. Engage your audience by asking them a question. For a large group you can ask, "How many of you...?" Watch your audience to assess their level of engagement. 

5. Focus on "WIIFM" What's In It For Me.  In other words, understand what your audience has to gain from listening to you and weave this into your message so that they are naturally motivated to listen and respond as you intend. Focusing on your audience's interests is the key to effective influence, persuasion and support. 

6. Explain what makes you credible (your experience, knowledge or credentials) so that people will believe it is worthwhile to listen to you.

7. Say what you're going to say, say it, then say what you said. Most audiences need to hear your message three times before they will remember it and act on it.  

8. Use common, well-known words that your audience is familiar with. Simple words and short sentences make a bigger impact. 

9. Speak in positive terms. Say what you want rather than what you don't want. By dwelling on what you want to avoid, you put people's attention on the exact thing you want them to stop doing. They can respond much more easily when you phrase your requests in positive terms. For example, instead of saying "Don't stare at the computer screen", say "Look away from the screen."

10. Own your requests. For example say "I want you to..." instead of "You should..." People will respond more naturally when they understand clearly the source of the request. Afterall, most of us are used to ignoring the words "You should" that we say to ourselves every day. 

Angela offers one-on-one coaching to for managers, professionals and business people who are developing their leadership skills. If you would like to know more, please email or call her at 8103-7326.