Communication Style for Leaders Developed and presented by: Jessi LaCosta, BlueRio Strategies www.bluerio.net Copyright © 2008 BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. “The difference between mere management and leadership is communication” - Winston Churchill www.bluerio.net Today’s Agenda 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. What is Communication Natural Styles Types of Communication Tips for Active/Authentic Listening Emotional Intelligence FullSync© Steps to Prepare for Leadership Communication Questions/Answers Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Is your perception always reality? Do you see rectangles or squares? Copyright © 2007. BlueRio Coaching. All Rights Reserved. What is Communication? •Connection allowing access between persons or places •Verbal, visual, non-verbal •Process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior •Engagement Copyright © 2007. BlueRio Coaching. All Rights Reserved. What is Authentic Communication? •Accepting responsibility •Aligning messages with core values, goals, mission, vision •Respectful transmission of ideas •Always check assumptions (at the door) •Honest •What else? Copyright © 2007. BlueRio Coaching. All Rights Reserved. No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others. - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe What is Leadership Communication? •Effectively: Motivating, directing, inspiring, guiding •Results-oriented •Often team-oriented •What else? Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies All Rights Reserved. Natural Communication Styles How do these styles fit into the bigger picture? •Controller/Director •Promoter/Socializer •Supporter/Relater •Analyzer/Thinker Based on the Platinum Rule by Tony Allansandra, PhD & Michael J. O’Connor PhD Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Natural Communication Styles Another way to view styles: DISC • "D" - Dominant • "I" - Influence • "S" - Steadiness • “C" - Conscientiousness Based on the 1928 work of psychologist William Moulton Marston. Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Natural Communication Styles •Which one are you in a leadership environment? •Which assessment style-guide works better for you? • • • • Controller/Director Promoter/Socializer Supporter/Relater Analyzer/Thinker • "D" - Dominant • "I" - Influence • "S" - Steadiness • “C" - Conscientiousness Based on the 1928 work of psychologist William Moulton Marston. Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Natural Communication Styles Scenario: You: owner/leader of a small business. Situation: Chance to get a story in local paper Need: A person to write it. (You must delegate) Approach: Find staff - And: Ask, tell, inform, demand? Conflict: Tight deadline - no extra financial perks for staff. Who can handle your style of communication - or how can you modify it to reach best person? What would you do? What style of communicator would that make you? Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Formats for Communication • • • • • • Seminars Email Letters (snail mail) PowerPoint Video Radio • • • • • • • Blogs Mime Dance Art Music Conferences What else? Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Listening Three Levels of Listening: •Level 1: Emphatic listening •Level 2: Hearing words •Level 3: Listening in spurts From Leadership Communication by Deborha J. Barrett Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Active Listening Style or tactic for listening that is about really “hearing” and responding to another person or group in a way that fosters mutual understanding. The focus is on the speaker. Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved.. Active Listening Authentic, Active Listening Tips •Don’t interrupt •Clarify (repeat back) your understanding of the message •Empathize where you can •Listen for emotions/ideas - in addition to words & facts •Question when you do not understand •Maintain Appropriate eye-contact •Other forms of Listening? - Collaborative/Conversational Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. It is ALSO about THEM •Even when you are the speaker, (communicator) it is as much about your audience •Who is your audience •How do they respond? •What is the best delivery method? •What happens if they DON’T get it? Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Emotional Intelligence Basic Overview •How emotionally savvy are you? •How well do you know yourself? •How well do you relate to others? •How well do you deal with strong emotions - yours/others? •How adaptive are you to change and problem solving? Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Emotional Intelligence (EI) Basic Overview Leadership Resonance vs.. Dissonance “EI leaders follow the more lasting path to motivation by evoking positive resonance: rallying people around a worthy goal” - Primal Leadership From Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Phases/Stages of EI Personal Competence: •Self-Awareness •Self-Management Social Competence: •Social Awareness •Relationship Management From Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Emotional Intelligence & Leadership Styles •Visionary •Coaching •Affiliative •Democratic •Pacesetting •Commanding From Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee Copyright © 2008. BlueRio Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Who fits into these categories? • Rarely - if ever - do great leaders exhibit 100% perfection in all domains of EI • Who do you know - however - who exhibits strong capabilities as an EI (emotionally intelligent) leader? • What styles does this person normally use? • How does this manifest in her/his communication? Why FullSync Method? • If you can “ACE” the steps of communication you are a very well -equipped leader. • "Leadership is influence, nothing more nothing less." What kind of influence do you have at work? Do people listen when you talk? John C. Maxwell - (an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author) FullSync & IACCE • • • • • Investigate Authenticate Connect Engage Evaluate IAACE - I ACE! Why Communication? “Think about it. How do the best leaders motivate and inspire their people? Motivation and inspiration comes with clear communication. How do the best organizations promote discipline, accountability and strategic alignment? With clear communication. And how do market leaders sell their products and services? With compelling ads and marketing campaigns – in sum, by clear communication. The point itself is crystal clear: In real estate, the old cliché is “location, location, location.” In business leadership, you preach “communication, communication, communication.” Lee Froschheiser, President and CEO of Management Action Programs, IAACE - I ACE! Why Authentic & Strategic Communication? • Aligning vision & mission with method is key • Listening - being reflective is information gathering • Emotional Intelligence - skills to understand you and your audience • FullSync Method - everything counts - when all is insync - all is good. Wrap-Up Communication Styles: Phases of EI: EI - Styles of Leadership: •Controller/Director •Promoter/Socializer •Supporter/Relater •Analyzer/Thinker •Self-Awareness •Self-Management •Social Competence •Social Awareness •Relationship Management •Visionary •Coaching •Affiliative •Democratic •Pacesetting •Commanding • "D" - Dominant • "I" - Influence • "S" - Steadiness • “C" - Conscientiousness Wrap-Up • • Active listening Authentic listening FullSync Method • • • • • Investigate Authenticate Connect Engage Evaluate Questions? Thank you. 619.401.6671 • www.bluerio.net • insightinsync.com