Understanding various forms of communication—how you communicate, how others speak to you, and how each side interprets what’s being said—is critical to effective leadership.
To be a great leader, you need to be a great communicator.
Consider food as an analogy. Are you a garlic lover? If so, you probably love its aroma and might even assume it appeals to everyone else. But clearly, this isn’t the case. The smells from the kitchen that make your mouth water might be unappealing to others. The foods you like may look distasteful to someone else. And what might come naturally to cook for another person might be somewhat of a mystery to you. Again, not everyone will have the same experience with food as you.
It’s the same with communication. People speak verbally and nonverbally in many different ways, so not everyone “hears” the same way. The senses someone else uses when communicating can vastly affect the intended meaning. Just like lots of garlic might ruin a meal for some folks, lots of communicative “garlic” can clog up the message you’re trying to convey. Perceptions, unconscious bias, and contextual misunderstandings may contribute to a breakdown in communication.
So, what’s the remedy for better communication with your peers? Try these three approaches:
- Use all of your senses as you receive “food for thought” from others.
- Seek to understand where the other person is coming from. Put yourself in their shoes. Try to “smell what they’re cooking”!
- Don’t be afraid to taste test! Experiment with new communication styles that fit your audience. How you say something is often as important as what you say.
You will grow as a leader as you grow in your skill to give and receive communication effectively!