Communication Skills That Only Exceptional Bosses Use Daily



When it comes to any type of business, effective communication is absolutely vital for success. Why? Communication creates clarity, productivity, fosters teamwork and inspires. Bad communication, on the other hand, results in the exact opposite.
It is the number one quality that sets exceptional leaders apart from mediocre ones.
Here's a look at 8 ways in which exceptional leaders communicate. Start using these habits (or find a boss who has these traits), and you'll see your success soar:
1) They listen more than they speak.
Great bosses learn early on that there is a very good reason why humans were given two ears and only one mouth. Not only do people want to know that you are listening, they are craving to actually be heard. In fact, being a good listener is proven to be one of the most important traits of successful leaders.
That's why exceptional bosses constantly practice active listening - they make a sincere effort to understand what their employees are saying, and they actively show they're paying attention.
2) They're transparent.
Exceptional and memorable bosses are who they are all of the time--not just during meetings or formal reviews.
Just look at the vetted job environment at Google, where leaders automatically "default to open," and their employees are some of the happiest in the world as a result.
They don't cover up their mistakes, they don't make false promises and they aren't secretive. Instead, they share information and knowledge generously. Being open with your employees will ensure they feel valued, which can go a long way towards building an amazing team environment.
3) They single you out (in a good way).
"Great leaders know how to work the room and make every single person feel as if he or she is being spoken to directly" - Travis Bradberry
Have you ever left a presentation or a speech and felt like the speaker was speaking to you directly? This is a great skill that the best bosses out there have mastered. It is obvious that you won't have time to schedule a one-on-one with the whole company, but having touch points (even if they are casual) along the way can make all of the difference.
4) They make time for praise.
Harvard research has found that the amount of praise given to a team is directly proportional to their amount of success. Even low-performing teams saw radical improvement through nuggets of encouragement.
Even when you're pressed for time, know that a little bit of praise goes a long, long way. It not only makes hard-working employees feel appreciated, but it gives them direction for continuing on the path to greatness.
5) They're constructive.
"Great leaders don't blame the tools they are given. They work to sharpen them." - Simon Sinek
That's not to say that exceptional leaders are giving out praise 100 percent of the time. When push comes to shove, they do give negative feedback, but in a way that's more effective than most.
Instead of immediately lashing out with anger, they give feedback in a calm manner, and only if it's something actionable. The next time you give feedback as a leader, pause and reflect if there's actually a way to improve - otherwise, you're just blowing hot air.
6) They welcome (and encourage) feedback.
Great leaders aren't afraid to admit they're wrong, especially when they're at the top of the totem pole. They don't only effectively communicate feedback, they effectively take it too.
I've found that the best ideas often come from the greenest employees, because they're fresh and provide new insights that veteran eyes wouldn't notice. You'll find this innovation too if you're open to ideas (even negative ones) from everyone.
7) They leave their door open, wide open.
If you want to lead a team effectively it starts with an open door policy. You need to create an environment that allows everyone on the team to feel comfortable to discuss issues in the workplace. Whether it be a mistake, an innovative idea or a career decision, the trust and the sentiment that they are not interrupting needs to exist throughout the organization.
If it doesn't exist organization wide, start with your team - you never know the power of people and you may be surprised how quickly this culture can spread.
8) They explain why.
"Passion is energy," says Oprah Winfrey. 
"Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you."
Great leaders know that great employees are driven by more than a paycheck, and are able to connect the day-to-day drudgery of work to people's burning passions.
When they're asking their team to do something, or trying to boost the mood of a co-worker during a tough task, they rely on the "why," and you should too.
Tamer El Sagheer
Skillinside
Source:inc.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Make-Or-Break Career Skill No One Talks About

Image
It goes without saying that you have to be responsible and alert to succeed in your career, no matter what your career path is. You have to be reliable, of course, and you have to be a good team member. No one can really act surprised if they miss out on a promotion and their boss says "We all like you, Stan, but you have a tendency to let us down when it matters, and that's not something a supervisor can do. I gave the promotion to Anjali, because I can always rely on her in the clinch." There is another, critical career skill that makes or breaks careers and that we don't talk about as often as we should. It's a muscle that we don't grow just by getting older or by going to school or even by taking on more and more responsibility over time. It is possible to reach a ripe old age without growing this muscle, and it always a shame when that happens. At Human Workplace we call this must-have career muscle "Fast Learning." What does it mean
Read more

How to Calculate and Reduce New Hire Turnover at Your Company

Image
  Hiring a new employee demands a significant investment of resources, including time and money. When you invest in this, the last thing you want is a new employee to quit after a few weeks or months and have to begin the hiring process all over again. So, how can you reduce new hire turnover in your business today? What is new hire turnover? New hire turnover is an important HR and recruiting metric that calculates the number of employees who leave a job within their first year or another period defined by the organization. New hire turnover can be  voluntary —an employee decides to leave—or  involuntary —an employee is asked to leave. The purpose of tracking new hire turnover is to determine how effective your hiring and onboarding processes are. It is very expensive to hire a candidate who doesn’t work out – either because the organization or the individual concluded it wasn’t a good fit. What’s more, a high new turnover rate can harm your employer brand, your recruitment budget, an
Read more

22 Characteristics of High-Potential Employees

Image
  Even if your team is made up solely of supremely talented individuals, there are always a few employees who stand out from the pack.  According to the  Harvard Business Review ,  these high-potential employees  account for an average of 5% of any company’s workforce.  High-potential employees (HiPos) excel in their current roles, but they also possess the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in managerial positions and senior roles, too. Importance of identifying top talent for employers High-potential employees need to know that you recognize their potential. In fact, a  recent study  showed that 77% of HiPos feel that being recognized as high-potential talent is important to them.  These workers want help in identifying a career path and they also want support in carving that path. For these reasons, it’s critical that managers identify HiPos early on in order to retain them and keep them engaged.  Employers who identify top talent increase the likelihood of retaining top talen
Read more