As a leader in your business or company, your role is to have a vision and to be convinced of it so that you can communicate it effectively to others, inspiring them to see the potential for their own dreams within it.
The question is, how well do you do this? Your answer to this question defines your leadership style.
Influencing others through authority, control, or command has been shown to produce limited outcomes, while a new model – influencing others through engagement and enrolment - is gaining momentum. Yet, too many leaders still rely on coercion rather than involving others in a way that touches, moves, and inspires them to move in the same direction.
What about you? Are you helping your employees visualise their personal goals aligned with the business goals, or are you inadvertently instilling fear and uncertainty in their subconscious minds?
Influencing others does not mean dictating what you want them to do; it is about moving things forward without coercion. It starts with understanding yourself, your behaviour, and communication style, and then recognizing the impact you have on others.
Sometimes, you may become so accustomed to your own style that you overlook how it is received by others. When people feel understood, acknowledged, or appreciated, they are more likely to contribute positively in a team environment.
Effective communication is a two-way street that involves expressing your thoughts and being willing to listen to others.
To be powerful in your leadership, you must take responsibility for your communication with others and come from a place of creating rather than reaction. This requires being present and attentive to what is being said. Furthermore, to engage and enrol others in your communication, you must first seek to understand them before seeking to be understood.
Unfortunately, many people do not listen with the intention of understanding others' points of view; instead, they filter everything through their own perspectives, hindering communication and fostering fear. As an influential leader, you set an example by holding yourself accountable for both your words and your listening. This creates a space for others to be themselves. To be effective in your communication and leadership:
To be effective in your communication and leadership;
• Avoid trying to fix people; instead, appreciate their contributions and significance, and cultivate a culture of open and transparent communication.
• Ask questions to show interest and attention.
• Check perceptions to understand the emotions behind words.
• Observe actions without making judgments or accusations.
• Give constructive feedback, using sincere praise when possible, and deliver negative feedback privately and without anger or personal attacks.
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Halle Yilmaz is a financial adviser ,business consultant and mentor. As a business consultant she works with business owners and leaders on their culture and performance optimisation in their organisations. She uses very effective tools to help leaders and teams create deep emotional engagement and profitable business results.