Page 24 - Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders

Ch01/P1_Baldoni_141496-7 5/22/03 12:27 PM Page 2
2
GREAT COMMUNICATION SECRETS OF GREAT LEADERS
OMMUNICATION IS THE GLUE that holds organizations together; it
is the chief means by which people relate to one another. The aim
of organizational communications is to ensure that everyone
understands both the external and internal issues facing the
Corganization and what individuals must do to contribute to the
organization’s success.
Communications belongs to everyone in the organization; it is not a
functional responsibility limited to marketing, public relations, or human
resources. Communications must become a core competency—the respon-
sibility of everyone within the organization.
A key element of organizational communications is the messages from the
leader that we call leadership communications. The chapters in Part I will
show you how to develop your own leadership point of view, which you can
develop into your leadership message.
At the end of each chapter are vignettes of exemplary leadership commu-
nicators. Frequently they focus on a specific moment in time when the leader
used his or her communications skills to convey a leadership message in a
manner that affected the vision or mission of an organization and resulted in
a positive outcome.
This collection is by no means definitive. In fact, a good argument could
be made that every successful leader is at heart an effective leadership com-
municator. The leaders presented come from all walks of life. The single unify-
ing thread is that they all have a personal leadership style that is rooted in
communications as a means of accomplishing their vision, mission, and goals
as a leader for the good of their organization and for themselves as contribu-
tors to the organization.
It is worth noting that not all of the leaders included in these vignettes are
world-class orators—few leaders are. All of them, however, do have an excep-
tional ability to communicate their ideas with words and to listen with their
hearts. Each of them shows us how to lead in thoughts, words, and deeds, and
in that, all are exceptional leadership communicators.
Each of the vignettes concludes with Leadership Communications
Lessons that are designed to help you identify particular leadership commu-
nication strengths. You will notice that many of the lesson points occur
repeatedly—with new examples, of course. This is for good reason. Good
leadership communications depends upon constancy, consistency, and fre-
quency.