LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION

SESSION 9

Why leading is communicating

Communication is a primary tool leaders use to bring people together to affect the performance of
a group or organization.

By communicating about the past and identifying problematic present-day situations, leaders
engage others in envisioning a better future. Therefore leaders bind time by linking the past,
present and future. In the process, the exhibit the ongoing, complex and irreversible nature of
communication. 1

Communication strategies are executed through engagement among teams and individuals who
understand, and have a stake in best achievable outcomes (BAOs) reaching and enhancing
stakeholder interests and mutuality.2

The exchange of information is clear, constant, open, honest, two-way, and caring. Content,
context, and tone are the structural elements of effective communication. To achieve maximum
effectiveness among recipients (followers, stakeholders) communication originating in the
company should pass through three strategic screens (Content, context, and tone).

Structural elements of effective communication in Leadership

a). Content- Ask ‘What?’

What is our news/information?

What is the best timeframe for making it known?

b). Context- Ask, ‘Where, When, Why now, What now, What next, Who?’

1
Gamble, T. & Gamble, M. (2013) Leading with Communication: A Practical Approach to Leadership
Communication. Sage Publications
2
Harrison, E. Bruce, and Judith Mühlberg. Leadership Communication : How Leaders Communicate and How
Communicators
Lead in the Today's Global Enterprise, Business Expert Press, 2014
In the communication channels and their respective and combined followers, what are the
conditions surrounding the release of our information? Is this information expected, required? How
will this release relate to or be influenced by existing information, opinion, or conditioning?

c). Tone: Ask ‘How?’

This is where we can control the style or manner in which we connect best. What can we do with
the decided CONTENT of our information, and with a good understanding of prevailing
CONTEXTS, to reach our followers or stakeholders in the best achievable manner—language,
reassurance, optimism, reality, openness? Does our “TONE” of writing, stating, and delivering
information—or in our conversations with stakeholders—connect emotionally and intelligently to
engender better understanding and support?

Four primary definitional themes of leadership

Leadership is about who you are- This definitional theme focuses on leader traits and attributes
and is one of the oldest ways of conceptualizing leadership

Leadership is about how you act- From this perspective, leadership is defined as the exercise of
influence or power. To identify leaders, we need to determine who is influencing whom.

Leadership is about what you do- This definitional thread focuses on the importance of followers.
Leader influence attempts are neither random nor self- centered. Instead, leaders channel their
influence and encourage change in order to meet the needs or to reach the goals of a group—task
force, business organization, social movement, state legislature, military unit, nation.

Leadership is about how you work with others- This definitional theme emphasizes collaboration.
Leaders and followers establish mutual purposes and work together as partners to reach their goals.
Success is the product of leaders’ and followers’ joint efforts.

Combining human communication with the definition elements of leadership above, Hackman and
Johnson (2013) offer the following communication-based definition of leadership;
Leadership is human (symbolic) communication that modifies the attitudes and behaviors of
others in order to meet shared group goals and needs.

The role of communication in leadership

The importance of communication to leader’s effectiveness cannot be understated because of the

role that it plays in human interactions, business and many areas of life.

Communication is not easy to define yet scholars have not agreed on a universal definition.

Communication can be defined as:

- a two-way process that involves both speaking and listening, and also checking for

understanding Baldoni (2003)

- According to Hackman and Johnson (2013) communication is about creating and manipulating

symbols

- Hackman and Johnson (2013) says that there are five principles of communication and this

distinct from each other; which are;

a) Communication is not a thing, it is a process.

b) It is dynamic and ever-changing,

c) communication is not linear, it’s circular;

d) communication is complex and it involves more than just one person sending a message,

e) communication is irreversible

Leadership on the other hand refers to the science and art of connecting people, materiel and
processes to achieve desired outcomes.
Because effective leadership depends so much on effective communication, the relationship
between the two is nearly absolute. When communication styles match or are compatible,
leadership and outcomes are hugely enhanced. When they are not, leadership becomes a constant
behind-the-wave struggle.

❖ Clear messages are the essential foundation for connecting people to achieve common
outcomes, even when people may have differing communication preferences.

❖ persuasive, flexible communication becomes the toolbox for all leaders who face the challenge
of maximizing the prod.uction of their teams. Think of a powerful leader as a master
communicator; i.e., a leader/communicator.

What role does communication play in effective leadership?

Leaders are constantly communicating with their followers in many ways and without it there can

be no effective leadership.

i) Communication is important to a leader’s effectiveness because it permits feedback to be given

to either the leader or followers. Through communicating regularly, effective leaders are able

to develop, deliver and sustain their “leadership messages” Regular and frequent

communication of the leaders in good and bad times, “will improve organisational and

individual performance, get results and create a successful enterprise”

ii) Communication aids in many ways including decision making and the understanding that goes

between the leader and followers. Leaders and followers exchange views and establish a

relationship. Through communication, ideas get openly and honestly exchanged between the

leader and followers

iii) Besides, communication is important in that it facilitates leaders in achieving their goals,

mission and vision. Leaders communicate all the time and do it willingly in order to convey

their goals, gain support for those goals, and demonstrate concern for all who follow them”
iv) When leaders communicate to followers, they create an influence over them, and this makes

them effective.

v) Communication is important for a leader’s effectiveness because leaders make choices on a

daily basis that require capacity to make decisions and take action. Leaders describe options

that the organization faces to make tough decisions and leaders are responsible for

communicating the reasons and results of decisions taken

vi) Communication is both dynamic and ever changing process and it occurs between the source

and receiver or receiver and source when there is feedback that completes the communication

cycle. Communication therefore enables interaction between the leader, and followers.

Communication facilitates transmission and receiving of the message to leaders or followers.

Effective leaders are, therefore, effective communicators who exchange messages between

them in many ways.

Communication acts that affect leadership effectiveness

a) Interrupting people

b) Being judgmental of those who are different

c) Paying little attention to or shows little interest in others’ opinions

d) Taking the best tasks and leaving the worst for others

e) Failing to pass along necessary information

f) Neglecting to say “please” or “thank you”

g) Talking down to people

Taking too much credit for things