Leadership is about communication. If you can’t connect with your people, you can’t lead them.

You are leading when you are connecting with others. You are leading when your people don’t find it difficult to know you, to understand you, and to work with you.

You are a great leader when you have lots of listeners. Because, according to Gary Burnison, ‘… as a leader, it’s not simply about staying on message- you are the message!’

‘A leader is never not communicating.

‘Communication is where leadership lives and breathes.’

‘As a leader, you must use communication to move beyond telling people what they need to know, instead guide them to what to think about.’

‘Leaders who are agile learners absorb information from their experience and use it to navigate unfamiliar terrain.’

‘Listening is observing, absorbing, and connecting.’

‘Listening means looking into the other person’s eyes and seeing what words alone do not convey.’

‘Leaders see what others cannot. They paint a picture that others cannot yet envision.’

‘Leadership does not happen behind a desk. It’s found among the people, both outside-in (checking with customers and other external stakeholders) and inside-out (gathering feedback from employees).

‘The vision of the journey needs execution to become reality.’

‘To create change, you must meet people where they are, not where you want them to be.’

‘To be the leader, you walk with others.’

Source:

Gary Burnison (2015). The Leadership Journey: How to Master the Four Critical Areas of Being a Great Leader