Telepathic Leaders Equal Big Failures. Leaders Don't Rely on Psychic Skills Instead of Communication Skills.
Around the world, there are leaders who are intentionally or unknowingly
relying upon their psychic abilities and those of their employees to relay
important information with disastrous results. The results of failed telepathy
range from massive product recalls, failed change initiatives to unengaged
employees. Humor aside, the lack of information and assumptions made by
leaders regarding things as broad as their vision to as specific as individual
performance expectations leads to big problems that are easily avoided.
One of the most important behaviors that a leader can exhibit is explicit
verbal communication. Sadly a majority of leaders make assumptions that
employees know what they are thinking. What causes this to happen? Effective
communication is a fundamental skill that every good leader has…right? More
than likely the issue is less about the ability to effectively communicate but
about assumptions and other underlying causes.
I spent some time in the Skyline Group Leadership Laboratory to uncover what I
think are some of the significant underlying issues that prevent leaders from
effective explicit communication:
Too much internal processing.
You, the leader are marinating 24/7 in the problems and potential solutions
facing the team, organization, and company. The culprit that leads to poor
communication is that you have spent too much time internally considering
these topics to a point where it is assumed that others are on the same page.
Solution : First don’t assume that others know what you are thinking.
Second, get ideas out of your head sooner than later and on the table to share
with others.
You assume that others will communicate for you.
How many times have you attended meetings where you shared information with
direct reports with the intent that they share with others outside of the
meeting only to learn weeks down the line that the information never made it
out of the meeting room? It is one thing to communicate something and it is
another thing to make sure that your information is effectively being passed
down to those who need it. Communication “black holes” are easily created when
you “the leader” communicate to your direct reports without explicitly
directing your reports to communicate with their teams and confirming in
follow-up meetings that the communication has taken place.
Solution: To avoid communication black holes make explicit requests that
information is shared and follow up with the individual(s) tasked with sharing
that she has done so. If necessary, reinforce and align communications from
your direct reports with your own communication.
You believe that others are on the same page and will ask questions to
confirm your thinking.
You’re a leader and your team is composed of leaders. Of course, everyone
knows how to do his or her job. However, despite being leaders, the team is
still composed of human beings and human beings like nature, abhor a vacuum.
When there is a gap in information the human will fill the information vacuum
with his or her own ideas, assumptions, and expectations. As a leader, you
know that bad things can happen when people tasked with important
responsibilities assume the wrong things. Additionally, people often will not
ask clarifying questions either because they think they know what to do or
because they do not want to loose face.
Solution: Be explicit with the people you are leading. Create room and an
environment for asking questions by leading by example and asking questions.
Provide positive reinforcement when people ask questions or request further
detail.
Underestimating the desire of people to be led.
As a leader your team and employees are eagerly looking to you for definitive
guidance and direction. People want to be a part of something larger than
themselves and your role as the leader is to set that vision and provide
guidance on how to make that happen. Making believers and empowering your team
requires consistent and explicit communication of what you envision and what
it will take to make the vision a reality.
Solution: Be the leader you admire. As a leader, you have the privilege of
leading others. Share your vision and the specifics of how others play a role
in making that vision a reality.
Laziness.
An underlying and frustratingly simple cause of communication lapses is
laziness. Whether it is failure to prioritize all hands meetings with
employees or not bothering to fill in and share details with the executive
team, laziness is often the failed communication culprit.
Solution: Create a communication strategy that includes
company/organization, team, and individual communication timing and schedule.
One great technique employed by more than one leader to connect with her
employees is a daily email that includes a range of topics from company news,
to recognizing an employee, to a fun video. Plan the time, make the effort,
and see results.
Avoiding these communication pitfalls and following these simple steps can
avoid relying upon the psychic abilities of your employees and increase
company performance.
Are there other communication pitfalls that you know of that lead to attempts
at telepathic leadership?