McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Introducing Leadership Communication Lectures Based on Leadership Communication By Deborah J. Barrett, Ph.D.

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 2 Discussion Topics  Understanding the importance of communication  Projecting a positive leadership ethos  Defining leadership communication  Explaining the three skill levels  Establishing your own communication improvement plan

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 3 Managers spend most of their time involved in communication:  CEOs average 36 written and 16 verbal contacts per day.*  Managers spend two-thirds to three- quarters of their time in verbal activity.* Communication Occupies a Manager’s Day *Mintzberg, H. The Nature of Managerial Work, pp. 31, 38.

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 4 Without effective communication, nothing can happen in an organization:  “Communication and action within large and complex organizations... are inseparable.”*  “Without the right words, used in the right way, it is unlikely that the right actions will ever occur.”* Communication Moves Organizations *Eccles, R.G. & N. Nohria. Beyond the Hype: Discovering the Essence of Management, pp. 211, 209.

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 5 Leadership Depends on Communication “Effective leadership is still largely a matter of communication.... An effective leader thinks about what he says, carefully crafting each utterance of any significance.”* Effective leadership depends on effective communication. *Axelrod, A. Elizabeth I CEO: Strategic Lessons from the Leader Who Built an Empire, p. 55.

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 6 Communication Seems Simple Context Sender Receiver Message

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 7 Interferences Often Prevent Successful Communication Sender Receiver Message  Unclear message  Illogical structure  Poor formatting  Offensive tone  Cognitive dissonance  Cultural misconceptions  Negative ethos  Inappropriate context  No audience analysis  Muddled thinking  Wrong medium  Wrong spokesperson  Poor usage or style  Poor timing  Questionable ethics

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 8 Ethos is One of the Persuasive Appeals Ethos is...  The perceived character of the sender of a message  The most important persuasive appeal Persuasive Appeals Ethos Pathos Logos

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 9 A Positive Ethos Can be Created The outward manifestations:  Attractive  Charismatic  Expert  Possessing position or title A Positive Ethos The inner character:  Honest  Honorable  Truthful  Fair  Ethical

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 10 A Positive Ethos is Integral to Leadership Communication Leadership communication...  Is the controlled, purposeful transfer of meaning by which leaders influence a single person, a group, an organization, or a community.  Uses the full range of communication skills and resources to overcome interferences and to create and deliver messages that guide, direct, motivate, or inspire others to action.

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 11 Leadership Communication Spirals Outward from Core to Managerial to Corporate Skills Corporate Managerial Teams Meetings Internal Relations Emotional/ Cultural Literacy External Relations Core Strategy Writing Speaking

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 12 Mastering Leadership Communication Requires Achieving Several Objectives Learning to 1. Project a positive ethos in writing and speaking 2. Analyze audiences and target messages to them 3. Develop effective communication strategy for all situations 4. Select and use the most effective media to reach all audiences 5. Create well organized, coherent documents 6. Write clear, concise, correct business prose

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 13 Learning to 7. Deliver presentations with confidence 8. Display emotional intelligence and cultural literacy 9. Lead small groups productively, whether in teams and meetings 10. Develop a vision and internal messages that guide and motivate employees 11. Design and deliver external messages to reach stakeholders with positive and effective results. Mastering Leadership Communication Requires Achieving Several Objectives (continued)

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 14 The First Step Toward Leadership Communication is Improvement Planning 1. Assess your leadership communication skills  Use the self-assessment in Leadership Communication  Obtain input from others 2. Select your preferred leadership communication roles in your career 3. Determine your short-term and long-term leadership communication objectives 4. Outline a communication development plan that includes a list of specific actions

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction Provides a clear roadmap to reach defined personal communication improvement goals 2. Identifies targeted improvement areas for oral, written, and interpersonal skills 3. Establishes specific approaches to achieving goals in each area 4. Confirms the commitment to spending time on your specific communication skill needs Having a Communication Development Plan (CDP) is Important

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 16 Suggested CDP Content 1.Current assessment:  List of strengths and weaknesses in written, oral, and interpersonal communications  Honest self-assessment with input from others 2.Communication improvement goals:  Very specific and measurable  With easier-to-reach and stretch goals

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction Improvement approach and timetable:  Clear and specific actions to reach each goal  Deadlines that ensure achieving goals by your established time period 4. Measurement:  Built in accountability measures  Specific methods for measuring your progress Suggested CDP Content (continued)

Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett Introduction - 18 Discussion Summary  Communication is important for managers and essential for leaders.  Effective leadership communication requires projecting a positive ethos.  Leadership communication can be defined and developed.  Leadership communication proficiency begins with core skills and expands outward to managerial and corporate.  A major component of leadership communication is an improvement plan.