Communication

Over the past few weeks, we’ve looked at four different types of leaders. Specifically, the focus has been on how leaders communicate. Each leadership style uses language to a particular end.

Visionaries communicate in order to share a vision and inspire the team to reach high.
Captains communicate to define goals, clarify job-roles, and provide accountability.
Mentors communicate in order to share knowledge and expand the skill sets of others.
Cheerleaders communicate in order to encourage, recognize, and reassure those around them.

The most effective leaders don’t rely on just one style of communication. The best leaders understand that they have to adopt different leadership styles depending on the people and circumstances they find around them. You may identify strongly with one style; but you can’t just rely on a single mode of communication and lead adequately.

For instance, I’m very comfortable communicating as a Visionary leader. I love talking to people about what’s possible and dreaming up solutions to problems. But if that’s all I do – if that’s the only thing I talk about – I’m not going to be an effective leader. I have to balance my communication across all four of the styles we’ve explored.

Visionaries have to step back from dreaming and help people develop the skills they need to achieve those dreams. So I have to communicate like a Mentor. People need to understand how their role fits into the big picture that I’ve drawn for them and be given a specific role to play. That means I have to communicate like a Captain. And people like to be recognized. Who wants to work in a world where there’s no reward for effort? So, even though it’s not my natural tendency, I have to communicate like a Cheerleader.

This is why true leadership is so hard. You have to work at it to be good at it. Even then, you never really feel like you’re as effective as you could be…or should be. Effective leaders are always trying to communicate more effectively. They’re never satisfied with their own performance.

So there’s yet one more way leaders communicate. They ask questions.

“What do you need from me?’
“How can I help?”
“What do you think?”
“How can we improve this?”
“What should I be doing better?”

When leaders speak, they generally ask questions. They lead us to get involved and leave us having learned as much from us as we have from them. Take a moment and think about your communication style. Do you ask enough questions? Do you seek out input on your own improvement? Do you value the words of others more than your own?

That’s how leaders communicate.

If there’s one message that I hope you received through this series, it’s this: You are a leader.

Every single one of us is born with the capacity for leadership. But not everyone chooses to make use of this gift. Actually, most people never do. They go through life wishing they were a leader, or bemoaning the lack of adequate leadership around them. Worst yet are those who understand what they are capable of, but decide to ignore this natural ability.

I hope you’ve thought about your own leadership style this month and how your communication patterns influence the people around you. We don’t need more leaders, we already have enough. They’re all around us. What we need are men and women who make the choice to lead.

Leadership is not a position. It is a choice.

There is a leader within you. It’s not something you have to go to school for, or a degree you earn from any University. No, you were born with leadership skills. You may choose to undergo training in order to develop your leadership ability, but make no mistake – the aptitude is there. All you have to do is choose to be a leader.

Communication is the primary tool of the leader. Leaders understand that the words they speak have power. They have weight. Words carry, and create, emotion. So leaders use words to inspire people, to relay expectations, and to help others grow. They also use words to lift people up. That’s the role of a leadership style called the Cheerleader.

Cheerleaders are encouragers. They cherish relationships and are always looking to share positive outcomes.

The Cheerleader’s strength lies in boosting the energy levels of those around them. They excel at motivating the team. Their language tends to focus on:

Recognition – Cheerleaders look for the positive in other people. They try to find more good than bad.

Organization– Cheerleaders help simplify seemingly complex tasks. They focus on small, manageable steps to accomplish large goals.

Motivation – Cheerleaders have a never-say-die outlook. Even when things aren’t going so well, they encourage others to do their best.

Ultimately, success for the Cheerleader means teamwork. They’re happy when people are pulling together toward a common goal.

How Cheerleaders communicate:
* Their energy level is consistently high.
* Their enthusiasm is contagious and promotes a positive attitude in others.
* They remain positive about the future even when the going gets rough.
* They focus more on what people do right than what they do wrong.
* They create an atmosphere of cooperation vs. competition.

 Things Cheerleaders say:
“Great job!”
“Here’s what you did well.”
“This is why your contribution is so critical.”

 Questions Cheerleaders ask:
“How did you do that?”
“How can we capitalize on this?”
“What can we learn from this?”

When Cheerleaders speak, they touch our heart. They lead us to believe in ourselves and leave us motivated to achieve more. Take a moment and think about your communication style. Do you actively recognize the positive contributions of others? Do you help people find small ways to improve? Do you keep the team oriented in a forward direction, even when things aren’t going that well?

That’s how leaders communicate.

There is a leader within you. Some people believe that unless you have an official title, you can’t be a leader. But authority does not equal leadership. Titles have nothing to do with it. In fact, some of the greatest leaders I have ever known never supervised anyone. They simply chose to tap into their natural leadership ability – the same ability that lies within each of us.

You can spot a leader by the way they sound. People who choose to lead sound different from everybody else. They realize the impact that words have on the people around them and have chosen to use theirs carefully. Visionary leaders speak in ways that inspire us. Captains are leaders who use language to provide clarity and focus. Another type of leader is the Mentor.

Mentors are teachers. They have a tendency to build close relationships and a natural inclination to dig for answers.

The Mentor’s strength is developing other people. They excel at helping others get better at their jobs. Their language tends to focus on:

Training – Mentors are good at passing along information you need to perform well.

Coaching– Mentors are good at demonstrating the proper way to perform a skill and help guide you as you improve.

Conflict resolution – Mentors are good at deciphering the source of interpersonal conflict and helping people find workable solutions.

Ultimately, success for the Mentor means improvement. They’re happy when people are growing and developing new skills.

How Mentors communicate:
* They make job-related information readily available to others.
* They deliver criticism tactfully and constructively.
* They dedicate time to developing each member of the team.
* They tailor coaching based on the needs and personalities of the individual.
* They look for on-the-job opportunities to grow the skill set of each team member.

 Things Mentors say:
“You need to know this.”
“Let me help you get better.”
“Let’s find a workable solution.”

 Questions Mentors ask:
“Who would benefit from this information?”
“How can I help someone grow today?”
“How can we overcome this barrier?”

When Mentors speak, they expand our minds. They lead us to grow beyond our self-imposed boundaries and develop skills we might not even know we have. Take a moment and think about your communication style. Do you actively share knowledge that will help others improve? Do you take advantage of opportunities to demonstrate skills your teammates would benefit from? Do people leave you with higher levels of competence and confidence?

That’s how leaders communicate.

There is a leader within you. Some people believe that leadership is a rare gift; that only a few are born with the raw material necessary to lead others. I don’t. I believe there’s a leader inside each and every one of us. We just have to choose to activate the potential we already have.

An easy way to identify a leader is through the words they use. People who have chosen to lead talk differently. They choose their words carefully in order to positively impact those around them. But not all leaders sound alike. There are different types of leaders and language typically reflects someone’s natural leadership style. Some are Visionaries – leaders who inspire us to dream and band together in pursuit of what’s possible. Others are Captains.

Captains are doers. They have a tendency for understanding the details as well as a drive to delegate. With a focus on the endgame, they create and execute strategies that move the team closer and closer to the goal.

The Captain’s strength is focus. Like the captain on a ship, this leadership style makes sure the right people are in the right place, doing the right job. They maintain efficiency so that effort is not wasted. Their language tends to focus on:

Goal-setting – Captains very clearly articulate what defines a win. They focus not just on the end result, but on the behaviors that lead to that result.

Delegating– Captains put the right person on a job and clearly spell out what is to be done.

Accountability – Captains hold people responsible for their actions. They are not afraid to apply appropriate consequences (both good and bad).

Ultimately, success for the Captain means achieving the goal. They’re happy when the game is won.

How Captains communicate:
* They know when to stop planning and start implementing.
* They take the initiative to make things happen.
* They delegate responsibilities and clarify job roles.
* They confront performance issues that need to be addressed.
* They consider the short and long-term consequences (pro and con) of decisions.

Things Captains say:
“Here’s how we win.”
“Here’s your role.”
“Here’s how you’re doing.”

Questions Captains ask:
“What needs to get done?”
“Who is the best person to accomplish this?”
“How are the members of the team performing?”

When Captains speak, they focus our attention. They lead us to act and leave us in a state of forward motion. Take a moment and think about your communication style. Do you actively share your expectations for performance? Do your words bring clarity to the job roles of those on your team? Do people leave you focused on the task at hand?

That’s how leaders communicate.

There is a leader within you. In fact, I believe the traits of four distinct leaders are hard-wired into your DNA. Whether you believe it or not, you were born with the capacity to lead others. Some people choose to ignore this ability, while others do what they can to develop and harness it. It’s my desire to help as many people as possible tap into this extraordinary gift. Our families, teams, and communities are desperately hungry for empowering leaders.

One way that you can recognize a leader is through their language. Leaders speak differently. They understand the power of words and utilize them to improve the people they come into contact with. Leaders are people we want to listen to because the words they use have been carefully chosen in order to have a positive effect.

So, what do leaders sound like?

Let’s take a look at the language of leadership by examining each of the four leadership styles that exists inside each of us. We’ll start with a leadership style called the Visionary.

Visionary leaders are idea generators. They carry an internal picture of a better future, and they can’t wait to see it come to fruition. They eagerly share that vision with others. But beyond simply dreaming of a better tomorrow though, a Visionary also carries a sense of what it takes to get there. They see not just potential, but the steps necessary to get from point A to point B.

The Visionary’s strength is purpose. They remind us why we’re here, what we’re fighting for, and why it’s a worthy cause. Their language tends to focus on the following:

Strategy – Visionaries quickly identify the goals that matter. They communicate the big picture plan that drives the team.

Inspiration – Visionaries paint a vivid picture of what the team is trying to accomplish. They tap into our inner desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves. They also help us see that every job matters.

Team-building – Visionaries help us see how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. They see not just the big picture, but how each of us rely on each other in order to create it.

Ultimately, Visionaries communicate with the intention of engagement. They’re happy when the team, along with every individual, is maximizing their potential.

How Visionaries communicate:
* They approach the job with imagination and originality.
* They identify the core elements of an issue.
* They remain open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
* They communicate how each person’s job performance impacts the organization.
* They inspire each person to achieve their full potential.

Things Visionaries say:
“Here’s the plan.”
“Here’s why it is important.”
“Let’s do this!”

 Questions Visionaries ask:
“What’s missing?”
“What if?”
“What’s next?”

When Visionaries speak, they touch our soul. They lead us to dream and leave us inspired. Take a moment and think about your communication style. Do you actively share your vision of the future? Do your words encourage team-work? Do people leave you inspired to do their best work?

That’s how leaders communicate.