The 8 Principles for Communicating as a Leader

Last week, we featured a post on how HR can take the lead during times of hardship in an organization. We addressed four key areas to consider in The Focus Alignment Map, the importance of ‘passionate champions’, and the value of communication. In this week’s post, we build on this by offering 8 key principles designed to help you conquer times of uncertainty.

1. Conversation.

Understanding communication styles helps you master critical conversations.  Perfect your art of conversing. Hone your effective messenger skills with clear and concise delivery and disclosure and truth sharing to dissolve the noise that should arise.

2. Listen.

Listen 70% of the time! The best communicators listen and listen well. Learn to listen to what people want and need to know. When more time is spent listening, more can get done.

3. Body language.

When you are conveying, people watch the way that you look and sound to assess what you really mean. If you don’t believe the message you are delivering, there’s a good chance you don’t look like you believe it either.

4. Anticipating needs.

When you anticipate your audience, it gives you greater control over how to advance your agenda.

5. Trust.

When seeking to rebuild trust, focus on perceptions rather than intentions.

6. Re-confirm.

Check in constantly during conversations to confirm what people are thinking, believing, and feeling.

7. Be positive.

Always start important conversations with a positive result in mind.

8. Be prepared.

There is no substitute for preparation.

If your game plan is to drive the business strategically, then you have already been working towards these principles. Remember, in order to “win” your talent management initiatives, you have to be proactive and understand that good times are a direct result of what you do in bad times.

What are some tactics that you have used to help your organization through times of uncertainty?