Page 72 - Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders

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GREAT COMMUNICATION SECRETS OF GREAT LEADERS
What kind of media you choose depends upon the importance of the mes-
sage. All leadership messages have importance, of course, but some are more
significant than others. Here are some suggestions you might consider:
Video affords the leader the opportunity to speak directly to an audi-

ence and to augment the message with stories and visuals that under-
score key points. For example, if the issue is the adoption of a new
strategic plan, the leader may invite different people from throughout
the organization to comment on their hopes and expectations, or to say
what they will do to change the organization and carry out the plan.
Additionally, the leader and his or her team can comment on what the
new company will look like once the plan has been achieved.
An all-employee meeting provides the opportunity to introduce the
leadership message live in front of the entire organization. The leader
needs to take a front and center role; she or he should explain the rea-
son for the transformation, be it a new strategic plan or a new direction
for the company. The leader may also wish to invite members of the
leadership team to be on stage with her or him. It may even be appro-
priate for one or more of them to speak, to explicate the issue from
their point of view. The meeting may conclude with a call to action,
asking people to commit to the new idea. It should invite input and
contributions from everyone.
Team meetings can flesh out concepts introduced at the all-employee
meeting. They can translate the broad vision into departmental and
team objectives, i.e., what the team will do to carry out the mission,
vision, and values. In other words, small meetings are where teams and
individuals take ownership and make it happen. If they do not do so,
the vision or the plan remains the property of the leader, and nothing
gets done. Team meetings should allow for plenty of discussion. Own-
ership of an idea cannot be imposed; people have to warm up to the
idea and talk about it first.
One-on-one meetings are a team leader’s opportunity to reiterate expec-
tations and bring the leader’s message to a personal level. The team
leader should solicit the employee’s opinion and conclude with a per-
sonal call to action, asking the employee to state what he or she will do
to ensure the success of the initiative or plan. (Later in the chapter we
will further explore ensuring feedback.)
Webcasts are ideal for enabling the leader to speak live directly to the
audience in a way that cuts through the clutter. The video image will be
viewed on an employee’s computer, so the setting will be intimate and