Communication
Introduction
The study and practice of communication is necessary for effective leadership because good communication skills builds trust and enhance team development .It is unheard of to imagine of any great leader who is not a good communicator. This is because communication plays a vital role in painting the leader’s picture and raising his stands above the rest. It is good to note that a talker is different from a good communicator. The secret key to talented communicating is rarely found lying in the intellectuals domains of the academic world. It rather lies in cultivating awareness and characteristics that surely make good communication different from average social interactions that center around small talk. Leaders who are good communicators convey messages that addresses their concepts and ideas in a way that openly reveal their intentions and at the same time appeal to their audience emotions and their desires .Good leaders also take note of the fact that if the message they are delivering does not get buried deep inside the conscience of their audience then, there is a chance it will not be accepted hence it will not achieve its purpose or even be championed for by the public majority.
Some may undermine the importance of the role played by communication in effective leadership. Communication is not a subject matter and neither is it an objective. The only objective of effective leadership is to develop understanding which can be achieved through various methods that do not require communication. A leader contains the blueprint of ideas that can be communicated through different methodologies and still have the same meaning. Leadership is all about results rather than empty flow of words that may never come to reality. Understanding can be developed through empathy that can only be shown by actions that speak louder than words. Words cannot build legacies but actions can. Most known leaders are remembered by what they did to change the lives of people rather than good speeches they wrote and sang to the public (Roger Soder, 2001).
I do not agree with the above sentiments that communication is just emptying of words that cannot amount to anything .Words spoken contain ideas that can be judged and put into account by the audience who are listening to the leader. Therefore communication plays key role to ensure that understanding is fostered between people and ideas discussed are implemented.
Present day’s rhetoric has the ability and means within which one can understand various ways they can use to communicate effectively. Grasping rhetoric and its practical functions is a crucial step in understanding its efficiency and competency in exchanging ideas .In order to gain insight on how effective communication works, the rhetoric perspective can be used. No matter how complicated it may be the rhetoric concept has always emphasized on very specific situations that can used to enhance communication (William & Christian, 2008).
In rhetoric, speeches are organized on the basis of the purpose they serve to educate, alter, entertain and persuade people. Rhetoric helps to discover different concepts, ideas and meanings of texts and how leaders or authors can use these concepts to harness persuasion from crowds or employees through entertaining, informing or and persuasion or a combination of the three. (William & Christian, 2008)
One of the ways rhetoric can be used to persuade and communicate to people is by focusing on audience. This can be done by using the four elements of rhetoric used in communication namely: messages. The one who receives, the media and the sender. (William & Christian, 2008).
For example New Testament ideas, the senders in this context are the authors who wrote the books such as the gospels and revelations. Using this descriptions one can easily tell their messages. This books can also be studied based on the people who believe in them and its entire form which is one of the methods used by rhetoric. (William & Christian, 2008).
When one establishes the four components of rhetoric, it gives a platform with a solid foundation of truth and facts. A very specific and prominent method used by Greece in the ancient period was aping of other well established authors and speakers of the current time and of a before period. Mimicry impersonates and later forces an individual to learn through observation and behaviors .Hence, this practice can be confirmed to be a good way of adapting into a successful way of communication with an intent of producing good leadership qualities and transforming through learning. Mimicry utilizes elements of rhetoric and passed along with other characteristics of good speakers (William & Christian, 2008).
Good leadership skills are enhanced by language and communication that is enabled by verbal and non-verbal cues to bring out emotions and pass the intended meaning. In ancient times speeches have caused wars and have stopped them. Speeches have produced Christian religion and civil movements. Rhetoric has often been placed at the center of such speeches together with components that make it work; that is messages, media, audiences and the senders. Such authors in the past must have practiced through mimicry of their leader’s work which help to reap the results they wanted from the audience (William & Christian, 2008).
William, Keith and Christian claim that rhetoric and its components is very vital when it comes to adequate communication. Therefore it is very important to explain the manner in which it is supposed to be utilized during communication. In this case, it can be defined as involving persuasion and language and linking both of these to communication. Persuasion is key when it comes to communicating any rhetoric because persuasion is the underlying force that creates influence and impact. It can be concluded that rhetoric is intertwined with persuasion. When a listener is led to feel any emotion, it can be said that it has occurred due to the relevance of the message communicated (William & Christian, 2008).
Efficient and effective language and leadership are conjoined twins. A good leader is often well positioned to engage his audience on issues that concern them. Communication is a framework that can be built on trust and other qualities. When one can simply trust a leader, then communicating becomes easy and bears fruits. Whenever trust is breached, one can make amends that can alter the situation at the moment. Therefore, the bottom line is trust. Most leaders continuously communicate and it is also their duty to listen, take note and learn. It is such a seal that keeps them ahead and above the rest as leaders and not average people who became leaders. Hence this important component of communication is what gives leaders credibility and makes them visionary and successful. Factors that can assist a leader create a good communication skills must always be put into account. Language that harbors and portrays leadership must be accompanied with strength and confidence. (Roger Soder, 2001).
The natural capability to quickly get and absorb the skills of communication and make people of various backgrounds understand a leader from their own perspective rarely comes natural. Words of communication must bring people together in thinking, their visions and the way they run their daily affairs. This makes a good communicator able to build a team and point the team to a common goal. (Roger Soder, 2001).
Pillars such as showing respect and being appreciative creates openness that can facilitate communication and breed an environment that has a good atmosphere of tolerance. Tolerance enables leaders to show they have insight into beliefs and different perspectives that people portray. If an atmosphere of tolerance and respect is created, communication will not require very extensive and cautionary skills to be achieved. (Roger Soder, 2001).
Simple language is overlooked most of the time when it comes to proper communication. Very simple language eases understanding and passage of knowledge intended by the leaders. It is always good to avoid the use of slang that might not be familiar with people from other countries. Simplicity creates flexibility that enables management. Enabling management paves way for discovering ways where challenges might be by the leaders. A simplified language also can be easily adapted by subordinates leading to quick solutions to problems without supervision and monitoring of situations by the leader himself. (Roger Soder, 2001).
In my own view, Communication does not need to be spoken to achieve it subjectiveness .Using various methods such as writing proper instructions is a very good and innovative way of enabling communication by leaders. A written instruction can be read and understood within a short period of time. Although most leaders do not consider this method written down instructions can be re-read and implemented. Communication can also be used to strategize and implement strategies by leaders. Although it looks easy, it is often not smooth. Be it spoken or written using words and backing them with actions, communications plays a role in demonstrating vision and values that a leader holds dear. What the public fails to understand and approve is that communicating a message is not about articulating issues and eloquence that accompanies the message but the manner in which the message has been communicated contributes a lot. The manner in which the message has been displayed is what gives life to the information and forms an idea of what the leaders stands for. Communicating a message clearly, persistently and accurately gives people direction and a leader’s role takes shape through this direction presented through his communication. Hence a leader is the same as the message he or she portrays to the public.
Dissemination of information is very critical but is only half of the entire struggle faced by leaders. Yes, it is true a leader must communicate openly and clearly on issues faced by the people he or she leads and is accountable to. A leader cannot just stop after effective communication verbally and non-verbally .One must ensure that they inspire and use their words to transfer their feelings to their people .This can be done by communicating deeply and confidently to impact the words spoken. Good communications has the ability to inform, direct, encourage and motivate .A good leader must impact through words as he or she reveals his true person to his audience. This descriptions will make a leader become more effective have an established reputation among his peers and followers (Roger Soder, 2001).
The other flip side of communicating is knowing what other people already know. Knowing what others knows put one in a better position to tackle issues and consider their challenges as a leader speaks. Good communication is not a one way road but a mutual two way road. Hence understanding and knowing other peoples predicaments is part of good communication skills .When a leader knows what others know, he can find information on what they do not yet know and use his insight to drive important issues so that no one can lose objectivity and focus .Being enlighten on what others knows gives a leader an opportunity to take control of all the concepts he has learn from the vast information he possess (Roger Soder, 2001).
The type of information conveyed during communication is critical but also is the body and face expressions that accompany the information such as the pitch of the voice as they are part and parcel of the message being communicated by a leader. They are physical evidences that show the magnitude of the message being communicated to the public by a leader therefore they should not be ignored in totality. Humans are very intuitive people and can easily detect a lie from a leader. Leaders should therefore be always on alert not to distort a message just because their physical expressions are speaking louder than their own words (Roger Soder, 2001).
Good leadership often acknowledges that they are pace setters in any organization or cooperation where they work therefore when they communicate they are sending a clear message that they are participating in the agenda they have told people about .An environment where a leader takes apart in concepts he communicates normally does not lead to any misunderstanding and miscalculations. A good leader must joint contribute to the outcome he so wishes to achieve in the end.to achieve the desired outcome the leader must be adaptive in his communication to suit the people he is speaking to. For example when communicating with employees he may need to take a more direct approach than when he is speaking to customers or presenting. All in all he must be friendly for the sake of achieving objectives and other targets. Adjusting approaches needed for communication helps the leaders to motivate a reaction from the people they speak to and draw interest as different messages are packaged differently based on necessity. Adapting to various styles of communicating a message gives a chance to explore thoughts and opinions that are hidden by a person’s words or actions. For their leader is able to switch and find if people are comfortable or not with his message. This gives a leader the upper hand in predicting reactions towards his leadership.
In leadership communication can be influenced through social interactions. Social capital approach can be used to initiate effective communication by leaders.it is often said that people respond on information based on how they are treated and how the friendly relationships they are in. Social capital exist in every society and community.it can be use, enhanced or modified to enable communication by leaders. Without social capital communication is mostly likely to fail and therefore a leader cannot carry put his duties .some of the benefits that come with enhancing social capital in communicating are: improved information sharing due to good and genuine relationships; increase in trust and integrity that enables communication to be listen to and keen interest taken; reduction in the overall operation cost that comes as a result of good communication and implementation of information which in turn saves money meant for training and other related programs due consistent transfer of message by the leadership and cohesiveness that enables understanding and openness with one another (Cohen & Prusak,2001).
In my perspective, communication plays a role in making leaders effective. Good communication skills can be learnt from previous effective leaders who used it as a tool. Body language can also be used to show the meaning of whatever is being portrayed to the audience. Rhetoric be applied to facts and evidence that can give communication purpose and a firm intention. Understanding the audience plays apart to know when and how to communicate. Creating social cohesion within the community or organization can help leaders to easily pas information due to a supportive and understanding atmosphere built by social capital. If one cannot communicate effectively, how will one have the ability to control and lead in the first place? The power to use words to influence and inspire gives leaders followers and followers create a platform that the leaders use to lead. People are judged by what they speak. Words are born in the mind before they are spoken. Spoken words communicates ideas and hopes of people. Communication holds a leader to account and gives him the identity of leadership.
References
Cohen, D., & Prusak, L. (2001). In good company: How social capital makes organizations work. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press
Roger Soder. (2001). the Language of Leadership, Josey-Bass.
William M. Keith and Christian O. Lundberg. (2008). the Essential Guide to Rhetoric, Bedford/St. Martin’s Press.
