“Most leaders’ visions fail, not due to a leader’s inadequacies, but due to the leader’s lack of communication,” says Margaret Reynolds of Reynolds Consulting, LLC in Lee’s Summit, MO.
She adds that it’s not that leaders don’t communicate, but that they don’t beat the drum regularly enough. “Leaders need to communicate often, regularly and consistently,” she recommends.
“In terms of how to communicate so people get it, it is pretty widely accepted that story telling is the most effective,” explains Reynolds. Leaders need to paint a vision where people see it often. She recommends that leaders share their vision at least seven to 10 times with their employees, and to make it clear to everyone what specifically each person can do each day to help achieve the collective mission.
Reynolds’ other advice to leaders is to be one whom:
- listens with respect
- communicates effectively
- removes obstacles
- shoulders the blame
- shares the glory
