Communication & Leadership

© 2008

Dr. David Byers

Communication and Leadership

are at the heart of all successes and all failures

within any organization—even in your home!

Getting to the Heart of It All

“Effective listening and effective leadership are inseparable.”

Steil & Bommelje

Listen to Lead

Communication that seeks a

positive relationship between communicators while addressing the problem.

Supportive Communication

Empathy in Listening

Putting yourself in the position of others and seeing the world as they see it

Listening and responding effectively to someone is as important as delivering the message itself

Listen to Respond

Hearing

Focusing on the message

Comprehending and interpreting

Analyzing and Evaluating

Responding

Remembering

Active Listening

•Hold off on making

assumptions

•Avoid being quick to

offer advice

•Eliminate distractions

and physical barriers

•Be continuously

respectful

•Be aware of your inner

voice

•Develop greater empathy

for others

Active Listening –Quick Tips

Benefits of Empathic Listening

• Builds trust and respect

• Increased cooperation

• Capture entire message

• Gain idea and thought

sharing

• Reduces tensions

• Encourages the surfacing

of information

• Creates a safe

environment

Barriers to Communication

1. Defensiveness

2. Low Self-Esteem

3. Inarticulateness

4. Hidden Agendas

5. Status

6. Hostility

7. Communication Styles

8. Assumptions

9. Patterns of Communication

10. Distance

DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOROne individual feels threatened or

attacked as a result of the communication

Self-protection is the priority

Energy is spent on constructing a defense rather than on listening

Aggression, anger, competitiveness, and/or avoidance as a result of the communication

• Low Self-EsteemIndividual feels incompetent,

unworthy, or insignificant as a result of the communication

Showing off, self-centered behavior, withdrawal, and/or loss of motivation are common reactions

• Using nonverbals to your advantage

– Become aware

– Don’t contradict your words

with body language

– Know what your face says

– Smiling and head nodding

– Direct eye contact

Nonverbal Communication

• Using nonverbals to your advantage

– Gesture with purpose

– Establish your intimate space

– Touch appropriately

– Note cultural differences

– Monitor your nonverbal cues

• Does not listen well

• Cuts people off and finishes their sentences if they hesitate

• Interrupts to make pronouncements or render a solution or decision

• Does not learn much from interactions with others

• Appears not to listen or is too busy constructing their own response

• Many times misses the point others are trying to make

• May appear arrogant, impatient or uninterested

• Will listen to some people but not others

• Inaccurate in restating the case of others

Characteristics of the Unskilled Communicator

•Not paying attention

•“Pseudolistening”

•Hearing but not listening

•Rehearsing

•Interrupting

•Hearing what is expected

•Feeling defensive

•Listening for a point of

disagreement

Poor Listening Habits

Communication and Leadership

are at the heart of all successes and all failures

within any organization—even in your home!

Getting to the Heart of It All