Communication is one of the key skills required of a very effective leader. Improving communication skills ensures that you can become a competent leader capable of leading in any dynamic workplace environment. Becoming an effective leader as far as communication is concerned requires an emphasis on certain crucial interpersonal skills. Here is an overview of what you need to emphasize in order to become effective in communication.
Listening skills
For communication to take place, one has to speak while the other party is listening. It is virtually impossible for you to become effective in communication if you do not pay attention well when someone else is speaking to you. Good listening skills involve avoiding the various distractions that may drive your attention away from the person speaking. It also ensures that you accurately capture the information being relayed to you while being mindful of the verbal and non-verbal cues involved.
Self-awareness
As an effective leader, who is competent in communication, you need to be resilient in terms of your self-awareness. Self-awareness has to do with understanding yourself and other persons around you. This helps you to be effective in understanding their social and emotional needs. Being self-aware implies that you have good control of your mind, body, and emotions, which ensures that you have the capacity to connect with other parties.
Building trust
Trust is highly essential in building formidable relationships. In any communication setting, the trust ensures that the communicating parties can believe in each other, especially in cases where confidentiality is necessary. Trust ensures that the communicating party can believe in whatever you tell them. Being a trusted party allows the other party to have faith that you will not disclose any private and confidential information that they give you.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the attribute of being able to sympathize with other persons while remaining empathetic and calm. From a leadership perspective, emotional intelligence is vital when handling employees with different social and emotional backgrounds. It ensures that you can understand their point of view, especially from the perspective of what they go through at a personal level. Being a leader who is competent in emotional intelligence will also allow you to handle different situations differently, depending on the circumstances that are specific to each case.