Impact of Communication in Leadership
By Joseph C. Ibekwe
What you say, what you don’t say; what you do, what you don’t do, are all part of communication.Â
Communication is the electrifying force for effective Leadership. A leader must communicate and communicate effectively.
What does a Leader communicate? Vision, strategy and strategy changes; goals and objectives; timelines and deadlines. A leader must communicate updates or progress of work, and he must communicate team building programs. Communication is the central role of the leadership that ought not to be abdicated or delegated. Whenever communication is delegated, the leader must take full responsibility for what is communicated by taking full ownership of what is said, not said; done or not done.
Can a leader communicate too much? Certainly not! It’s equal to ask, can a leader lead too much in terms of performance outcomes and impact? No one can chastise a Leader for making too much impact. Therefore, no one can chastise a leader for communicating too much. Information is the most important intangible currency of leadership. It comes before integrity. In fact, credible, timely information is what validates the integrity of a leader.Â
Information is the oxygen of public leadership. To horde information from the public is to horde oxygen from them. Leaders that horde information suffocate the people and provide ambience for the rise and flourishing of fake news and misinformation; because the hunger to know is inherit in all humans. The right to know and the need to know are fundamental to human survival. Any leader that tramples on this right and neglects to meet this need, is an enemy of the public and must be treated as such.
How should a leader communicate? In communicating with the public, a leader must understand that it is the right of the people to know what they ought to know, and communicating to the public is a duty the leaders owes the people. A leader must not see communication as a favour done to the public. It’s in fact, the foremost duty of a leader that must be performed diligently, consistently and effectively.Â
How then should a leader communicate? A leader must communicate with candour and compassion. Information has consequences. This, a leader must understand. To communicate with candour means a leader must be honest to the public about issues, even when the truth is not pleasant. To communicate with compassion means a leader should provide unpleasant information to the people in a language that inspires hope and fortitude.Â
Leaders that communicate with candour and compassion have the greatest chance mobilizing the greatest number of people to buy into his vision. Such leaders are then able to harness the creative energies of the people for collective impact, as the peoples potentials are maximized for sustainable development.
Societies that are led by effective communicative leaders experience less social unrest and disquiet, less insecurity, less material poverty, higher quality life, are less materialistic, and have higher patriotic zeal; because they believe they are one with their leader, and are on the same page with their leader. Because, through effective communication from their leaders, themselves are in the know. And knowledge is what powers socio-economic development, promotes political stability and deepens democratic culture of openness and participation.
Leaders that shy away from public communication or treatment public as a favour are a danger to the public safety and prosperity. The reason is simple. These horde information, which is the oxygen the public needs for survival. And they also horde information, which is the currency the public need for daily mutual interaction for their survival and prosperity.
In evaluating the performance of your leaders or those seeking for public office, take time to examine their disposition to public communication. Those that treat public communication with disdain and carefree attitude, must not be given your support, because they suffocate you and will deny you the currency you need for effective and responsible social intercourse for maximum impact in your community and nation at large.
Communication is so key and important in any organization where more than two people are engaged as workers, members, stakeholders, or partners. People need to know what they ought to know, at the right time, and in the most possible humane way.Â
Lead Coach @
 The Joseph Coaching International
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@ FLED International Leadership InstituteÂ
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