Communicate well to be an inspired Leader…

If you read any of the people-, human resource-, business-based magazines, journals and publications, there has, is and always will be articles linked directly or indirectly to leadership and leadership skills. In fact over the past number of years there has been a noticeable increase in the spoken and written word of leadership. Leadership is the word of today, and the future is depending on people to lead others, make decisions and see them through. Foundational to these people’s leadership skills is how they speak i.e. their communication skills. How do they get people to do what they want them to do, to do things that they may not want to do, to keep going until the job is done and indeed to foresee and plan for the next problem, challenge, task, project or issue?

From the studies on communication skills by experts across the world, we are educated in the fact that it is not what we are saying, but how we are saying it. People do listen to what you are saying, but they are more inspired, more motivated, more enthused by how you are saying it i.e. your tone of voice and your physiology. Put yourself in the audience’s shoes and think about how you can make them move, change and take action? Watch and listen to great speaking auditors who you admire, whether they are in the public eye or people you know through work, socially or personnally. Observe how they project their voice; add music to it; inflect their words; their facial expressions; their gestures, all leading to engaged listeners.

To develop these great communication skills is to learn the fundamentals and the know-how first and then practice them in the real world whenever you get the opportunity. In fact, attend public speaking classes, offer to speak at events / occasions (through your profession or socially) and become the inspired leader that people want to look up to…