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GROUP 2

QUESTION.

Good communication skills play a very important role in determining leadership

effectiveness. Suggest 3 communication skills for becoming a better leader and discuss

their role in enhancing a leaders effectiveness as a communicator.

Note:

(1) Group 2, pl read my comments and try to understand the requirements of the

question. Next check yr answer again for any strengths or weaknesses in

argument. Amend answer. Insert relevant citations where necessary. Thank you.

(2) I have selected some notes for your reading in Appendix after your essay answer.

Hope that helps.

Mrs Low

28.2.2011

Comments

1. Content from the book is based largely on interactions between a leader and his

team. However, it can be reorientated to answer the above question based on the

following classification of communication skills of a leader , for eg:

a. listening skills eg. Emphatic and objective listening/active listening/non-

judgemental and critical listening (refer chapter 3)

Elaboration

A leader should have excellent listening skills. Communication is not just about talking, a

lot of it is about listening and understanding as well. If others feel that the leader

understands them, they will be more forthcoming and open in their opinions, feelings and

thoughts while conversing with him, which is a very positive sign for any organization

( http://www.buzzle.com/articles/leadership-communication-skills-the-

importance-of-connection.html )

b. Public speaking and presentation skills eg. Informative/persuasive speech

(refer chapters 11 - 14)

c. inter-personal communication skills (chapters 6)
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d. Communication through mentoring

Example of reorganization of yr content points :

(i) listening skills - we can state that a good leader relates to his team and

can feel the pulse of their sentiment abt work and related matters. So how

does the leader do this? The leader can encourage open dialogue,

feedbackon-going evaluation and improvement. This is vital for survival of

any organization.

(ii) Emphatic listening listening sincerely and with emphathy does make

others feel special and attracted to the leader. This is very important

because like what John Maxwell says "People buy into the leader before they

buy into the vision." . In short the people pull factor is very important in

leadership dynamics. Being a good listen empowers the leader in his leadership

role.

(iii) Interpersonal communication skills :

a. principle of immediacy, for eg. A leader communicating to establish closeness

between listen and speaker

b. Power of advice and compliments a good leader guides and nourishes his

team to perform better and better etc

(iv) Your explanation on the mentoring aspect of leadership is quite good.

However since the question talks abt comm.. skills of a good leader, you sh

stress on the communicative aspect of mentoring:

For eg. by mentoring relationships, leaders convey to their teams that they

care about nurturing talent and the need for new members of the group to

have a conducive and safe work environment. In so doing a good leader

has in actual fact conveyed his business ethics to his followers because

leaders who are more concerned with their own personal interest rather

than with the group task or the interpersonal needs of the members are

acting unethically. Through mentoring action speaks louder than words the

good intentions of a true leader. The more he empowers, the more powerful

he becomes.

Points

1. Prepare members and start interaction


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Organize and coordinate the members and stimulate them to interact with each other

Example: get to know the members and gives a proper briefing about the things to be

discussed

2. Encourage ongoing evaluation and improvement

All groups have room for improvement and to improve, the group must focus on itself.

When we notice some serious group failing, address it, perhaps posing it that very issue

as a problem to be solved.

Example: personal conflicts, failure of members to solve its own internal problems

3. Mentor

Mentoring relationship occurs when an experienced individual helps to train a less

experienced person or people.

Example: an accomplished teacher might mentor younger teachers who are newly

arrived or who have never taught before.

This relationship provides a supportive and trusting learning environment.

The relationship enables the novice to try out new skills under the guidance of an expert.

Source: essentials of human communication (page 201-204)

POINTS

By becoming a leader, one must concern for the welfare of group members.

Explanation

-Leaders who are more concern with their own personal interest rather than with the group task

or the interpersonal needs of the members are acting unethically.

Example:

-If one of the group members is having a problem, the leader has to be more understanding

instead of keep criticizing and pressing him.

Accountability (This is not a skill. This can be a principle of good leadership)


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Explanation

- the heart of empowering people to perform well, demonstrating initiative, and acting

responsibly

-leaders should take responsibility for the actions and decisions, admit making mistakes, and

take corrective action when necessary.

Example:

(Competent in giving direction)

-Whenever there are many confusion in the group, the leader must come out with the best

solution to make things clear.

3) Responsiveness

Explanation:

-the leader must be responsive to all members of the group

Example:

(Dependable)

-the group leader must take charge if there is any mistake done by the group members

especially during the documentation of the working paper.

Source: Essentials of human communication (page 201)

http://www.cmoe.com/blog/establishing-accountability-through-effective-leadership.htm

Essay Answer

Some myths state the skills of leadership are rare. All of us have the potential for

leadership. Other myths also state leaders are born means specific genetic endowment is

necessary. Actually the major leadership skills can be learned by just about everyone. We all

can improve our leadership abilities. According to a theory the effective leadership depends on

the leaders assessment of the groups ability to do the task and their willingness and

commitment to do it. A good communication skill play a very important role in determines

leadership effectiveness

Comments

(1) Can the text below be amended to form an introduction for the above question? Pl

compare your introduction with this text. Which is more suitable as an introduction? Why?
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Effective leadership communication skills are a must in any leader. In the corporate

world today, a leader communicates with a number of people on a daily basis, such as

his subordinates, clients, media persons, shareholders, investors, etc. The success of

any leader, in dealing, negotiating and working with all these people depends a lot on his

interpersonal skills. If he is able to form a kind of connection with the people he interacts

with, though his gestures, the way he communicates and presents himself, a leader is

able to accomplish a lot more. Let us know what all communication and leadership skills

one needs to posses, which will make a leader a "people's person".

(2) Please note the difference between leadership skills and leadership communication

skills (Reminder : this question focuses on the latter.)

There are some communication skills for becoming a better leader. One of them is

prepare members and start interaction. First, as a leader, we must divide them into small group

interaction as well as for the discussion of some issues or problems. So, everyone can giveopinion or view about their discussion. It can help the leader to organize and coordinate the

members and stimulate them to interact with each other. For example, the group leader can

start by getting to know each other in the group and give proper briefing about the things to be

discussed.

Second, to be good leader, we must encourage ongoing evaluation and improvement of

the members. We should believe that all groups have room for improvement and to improve, the

group must focus on itself. As a leader, when we notice some group failing, address it or

perhaps posing it so that the problem can be solved. For example, if our members face with

personal conflicts or a failure of members to solve its own internal problems, help them so that

the problems do not affect group achievement.

Then, to be a good leader, we need to have a mentor. Mentoring relationship occurs

when an experiences individual helps to train a less experienced person or people. Take an

accomplished teacher as for the example. He might mentor younger teacher who are newly

arrived or who have never taught before. By this way, a good leader with enough knowledge

can be produced as this relationship provide a supportive and trusting learning environment and

also enables the novice to try out new skills under the guidance of an expert.

As a communicator, communication skills play very important roles in enhancing a

leaders effectiveness. By using communication skills, a leader will be more concern for the

welfare of group members. Leaders who are more concern with their own personal interestrather than with the group task or the interpersonal needs of the members are acting

unethically. If one of the group members is having a problem, the leader will be more

understanding instead of keep criticizing and pressing him.

Next, the leader will have accountability towards their members. Accountability is at the

heart of empowering people to perform well, demonstrating initiative, and acting responsibly.

For example, leaders will be more competent in giving directions. Whenever there is much
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/leadership-skills/http://www.buzzle.com/articles/leadership-skills/


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confusion in the group, the leader will come out with the best solution to make things clear. So,

all the members will satisfy and no more confusion happens.

Besides, a leader also will become responsiveness towards the group members by

using good communication skills. They could be responsive and dependable towards all the

members. The leader will take charge if there is any mistake done by the group members

especially during the documentation of the working paper.

No group can be task oriented at all times. Group members have varied interpersonal

relationships, and this need to be nourished if the group is to function effectively. Group

members need to be satisfied if they are to be productive. Group maintenance from a good

leader with effective communication skills serve these relationships needs. So the

communication skills really have important roles in helping the group achieve its goal and in the

group effectiveness in terms of both productivity and personal satisfaction.

APPENDIX

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/leadership-communication-skills-the-importance-of-

connection.html

Leadership Communication Skills - The Importance ofConnectionThis article looks at the importance of leadership communication skills and why the ability to make a connection iscentral to a leader's success.

Leadership communication is widely regarded as being the most important leadership skill. This is notsurprising when you consider that research has demonstrated that leaders spend 80% of their timecommunicating with clients, staff, investors, the media and other stakeholders.

The most effective leaders are generally those with the most effective leadership communication skills .Examples of leaders who have mastered effective leadership communication include: Bill Clinton, JackWelch, Hilary Clinton, Steve Jobs and Barack Obama.

In order to master leadership communication a leader must:

Have good public speaking and presentation skills. Know how to use their non verbal communication. Have leadership charisma; and Be able to connect with their audience.

Great Communicators Are Made Not Born

Many wrongly assume that leaders who are great communicators, were born with huge amounts ofnatural talent and were persuading groups of children when they were still at Kindergarten. On thecontrary, Ronald Reagan was trained by some of the best acting coaches in the world and was known forconsistently working on his timing and delivery.

Bill Clintons speaking abilities left a lot to be desired in the early years of his political career. Perhaps hismost memorable public speaking disaster was during the 1988 Democratic National Convention in

Atlanta. His role at the conference was to introduce the partys presidential nominee, Michael Dukakis. Hewas allocated fifteen minutes to speak but droned on well past thirty minutes, resulting in the conference
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organizers having to switch the lights on and off, flash "times up" on the teleprompter and eventuallylower the mechanical podium which Clinton was still standing on.

Clinton, who had closely studied the speeches and communication styles of John F Kennedy and MartinLuther King, worked intensely on his communication skills undergoing both NLP and body languagetraining. The results of this leadership communication coaching are evident to all and were key factors inhis ability to maintain his popularity throughout the various storms he encountered during his Presidency.

Like Reagan and Clinton, Obama is reputed to have worked hard on improving his public speakingabilities. You only need to see some earlier film footage of Obama speaking, to see the significantimprovement in his performance.

The Importance of Making a Connection

Unless a leader connects with people, they will fail to achieve their true leadership potential. Byconnection I do not mean superficial networking. I am talking about the connection that leaves the otherperson feeling that they matter, even in some small way.

A leader must connect with people on an emotional level, as that is the playing field where they can havethe greatest impact and influence. Research has established that people form opinions and make

decisions based on their emotions. First people listen to their emotional guidance system, then they justifywith reasons, then they rationalize.

Bill Clinton is very effective at engaging people by making them feel that they matter. In the early years ofhis Presidency, Clinton speaking to members of the public, often used the phrase "I feel your pain".Through the effective use of body language, eye contact, smiles and listening skills, Clinton appears toradiate a form of feel good energy which can properly be described as charisma.

It is because of these qualities that Clinton was able to survive the Lewinsky affair, despite havingblatantly lied to the American public and being subjected to an attempt to impeach him. According tonews reports, Clintons popularity actually soared to an all time high during the impeachmentproceedings!

Connect Using All Communication Channels

To make an effective connection you have to use the full range of your communication channels.Professor Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, in his widely praised research, established that the impact of yourcommunication is broken down in the following way:

Your words count for a mere 7% Your tone of voice counts for 38%; and Your body language counts for the remaining 55%.

It necessarily follows that for you to truly communicate effectively as a leader, you must, at a minimumlearn how to deploy your words, tone of voice and body language for maximum impact.

When we look closely at the great connectors we see they have the following qualities and characteristicsin common;

Energy Warmth Smiles Expressive open body language Eye contact An ability to make the listener feel they understand Their own distinctive communication style


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Openness about their feelings and beliefs

While establishing connection is at odds with the old model of leadership communication, modern leadersknow that the ability to make a connection is often the most powerful persuasion tool in a leaders toolbox.

ByMartinSoorjoo

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/leadership-communication-skills.html

Leadership Communication SkillsIf you look at any leader, right from Winston Churchill to Barack Obama, one quality that is common to them, is theireffective leadership communication skills. What qualities qualify for effective communication? Scroll down and have alook...

"People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision." - John C Maxwell

Effective leadership communication skills are a must in any leader. In the corporate world today, a leadercommunicates with a number of people on a daily basis, such as his subordinates, clients, mediapersons, shareholders, investors, etc. The success of any leader, in dealing, negotiating and working with

all these people depends a lot on his interpersonal skills. If he is able to form a kind of connection with thepeople he interacts with, though his gestures, the way he communicates and presents himself, a leader isable to accomplish a lot more. Let us know what all communication and leadership skillsone needs toposses, which will make a leader a "people's person".

Leadership and Communication Skills

Make Others Feel SpecialHave you ever given it a thought as to why do people think that political figures like Bill Clinton, BarackObama and industry stalwarts like Richard Brandon and Bill Gates are great leaders? It is because all ofthem possess this great quality of connecting with people at some level, with the way they communicate.Through the words that they speak, their gestures, body language and the way they maintain eye contact,they are able to convey a feeling to other people that they matter. They have this uncanny ability to make

people feel special through their leadership communication skills! And that's what differentiates successfulleaders from others.

Compelling and InspirationalEvery organization, whether political or economic, has a goal. There are some set of values, strategiesand procedures, which every one working in it has to follow, in order to reach that goal. The onus onmaking people in the organization realize that the goals are important and so are they, lies totally on theleader's communication skills. The leader should convey his and his organization's vision in a very clear,confident and compelling way so that people themselves take initiative in working towards that vision. Inshort, through his leadership qualities and communication, a leader should be able to inspire other peopleto work for him.

Clear and ConsistentWhether a leader is communicating with clients or his subordinates or with media people to promote thecompany's products, it is important that a leader is very clear on what he is speaking. Also, a leadershould be consistent in his opinions and avoid being contradictory as this instills trust in the audience. Themore clear and consistent a leader is in his workplace communication, the more he is understood andtrusted.

Exemplify Model BehaviorLeadership communication skills have a direct bearing on the way the subordinates behave andcommunicate. So, if a leader wants his staff to be transparent, respectful, trustworthy and open in theircommunication with one another and with company's clients, he should model the same behavior. The
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way a leader interacts with his clients, his subordinates are to follow suit.

Good ListenerA leader should have excellent listening skills. Communication is not just about talking, a lot of it is aboutlistening and understanding as well. If others feel that the leader understands them, they will be moreforthcoming and open in their opinions, feelings and thoughts while conversing with him, which is a verypositive sign for any organization.

CharismaticA leader should be charismatic. There should be an aura of authority around him, at the same timepeople should feel that he is approachable. Being well dressed, knowledgeable, remembering smalldetails about other's personal lives and inquiring about them from time to time, basically finding a balancebetween being a task master and a softie are some ways to being charismatic in one's businesscommunication.

Contrary to what people believe, leadership communication skills can be acquired by anybody throughpractice. A thorough understanding of the psychology and demographics of the people one iscommunicating with and molding one's communication and leadership styleaccording to that, leads tobetter communication. Any one can inform his staff, clients etc about the company's products, policies,marketing strategies and other things, but it is up to the leader to transform that mere information into

effective communication.

ByAastha DograPublished: 10/11/2010
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