How you currently communicate is most likely an example of conditioning, or learned behaviour. You may have to change what you currently do in order to become a more effective leader.
Let’s examine face-to-face interaction, the most common form of communication used by a leader at work.
When you talk directly to an individual or group, you are sending and receiving messages. Real communication will result in common understanding, but this can be complicated to achieve.
When you interact directly with another person, the message is made up of three components: words, tone and body language.
Certain training principles claim that a message is made up of seven percent words, 38 percent tone and 55 percent body language. This principle can help to highlight the importance of tone and body language, but it won’t work for every occasion.
Think instead of the messages you transmit as having two dimensions: content and context.
The messages you send
Forget about percentages - to be an effective communicator, the content and context of your message must always be in harmony.
The context of the message, i.e your tone and body language, is highly influenced by your emotions – how you feel about what you are saying.
When you're happy, your tone and body language change, as they do when you are sad, angry, or embarassed.
That's why controlling your emotions is crucial to your effectiveness as a communicator.