As Woodland, CA headhunters, Pacific Staffing knows being a great leader and great communicator go hand-in-hand. You simply can’t have one without the other.

In fact, if you look at the most admired leaders throughout history, you will notice they share a common trait: they didn’t talk, they communicated…brilliantly. And the lessons learned from them can be applied to your career to help you achieve better communication results.

Lesson #1: Know What You’re Talking About

Have a firm technical grasp on the subject matter you are discussing. It sounds like a no brainer. But too many leaders today simply like to hear themselves speak even when they don’t have a complete understanding of what they are talking about.

Yes, style matters; but so does substance. And your audience will quickly see right through you – and come to distrust your words in the future – if you don’t have a technical command over the information you’re dispersing.

Lesson #2: Build Trust

Building trust with your audience will take time. But when they know what you’ve said in the past has been true and you’ve made good decisions, they will step out in faith, take risks with you and help you achieve your vision. When there’s no trust, there is no leadership.

Lesson #3: Talk to People, Not Subjects

Some leaders have a bad habit of issuing directives, vague corporate statements, and treating their team like subjects, rather than individual people. But if you want to engage your employees, you need to get personal and work to develop meaningful relationships with each one. Put simply: Be real and keep your ego in check.

Think of it this way. When an issue or problem arises, who do you think will hear about it first? The leader who has close connections and open communication with their team members, or the one who holds them at arm’s length?

Lesson #4: Keep It Simple

In today’s data driven age, it can be easy to let your message get bogged down by numbers, facts and figures. But really, what your team wants to know are the key points: how is this going to impact them and specific actions for moving forward. When communicating, being clear and concise is always better.

Lesson #5: Talk to Your Critics

As a leader, sometimes it can be difficult to listen to your critics. However, if you want to amp up your communication skills, it’s a must. Surrounding yourself with “yes men” who simply confirm what you want to hear is a recipe for disaster.

Instead, seek out those who may not agree with you so you can fully understand their reasoning. After all, how can you persuade them to your side of the table if you don’t even know what they’re thinking?

Some leaders are born great communicators, while others have to work to develop that talent. But by following the tips above, you can ensure you communicate to your team with a sense of honesty, trust and caring – and boost your effectiveness as a leader in the future.

Looking to put your communication skills to use in a new leadership position? Pacific Staffing can help. As Woodland, CA headhunters, we can assist you in your job search, connecting you with rewarding opportunities that will enable you to achieve your career goals. Find out more now.