Effective Leaders Are Accountable For Their Communication

By Keith Rosen

Top Managers Know How They are Heard
More than 65 percent of all problems or breakdowns that exist among people and within businesses occur as a result of faulty communication. The very thing that occupies approximately 70 percent of our waking hours is the very thing we have difficulty with the most.

Most of us were never taught how to communicate in a way that produces consistent results, so we continue to experience frustration, resistance, conflicts, or breakdowns. Although the style of communication varies from each leader, (high-powered, humorous, low-key, etc.) a great leader is fully accountable not only for the message they deliver but for the way they are being heard.

To strengthen your communication, ask yourself the following questions:

Am I taking full responsibility for the message being heard by the other person? (Remember that it doesn't matter what you say, it only matters what the other person hears.)

Did I respect the other person's point of view, or did I have a reaction (disagreement) to what they were saying that prevented me from listening to their full message?

If I was asking someone to take a specific action (delegating), did I make my request clear and check to see if the conversation worked/was successful? (Did I receive feedback to ensure that I was understood?)

Did I receive value from the conversation? (Did I allow the other person to contribute to me?)

If the outcome of the conversation did not meet my expectations, what did I learn that would enable me to better communicate with that person? (Did I open up a new and greater possibility that I didn't notice before?)