Reflection Shorts - "Win that Communication" - episode #14

The buck stops here. With you, the leader.

No one trusts a leader who can’t communicate to meet others’ needs.

Once you land a management or leadership role, you must:

• Bring in business. 💼

• Talk to customers. 📞

• Lead the teams. 👥

• Hire and grow people. 🌱

• Delegate work effectively. ✅

• Set an example for others to follow. 🌟

In all these cases, the buck stops with the leader. It’s crucial that you can influence others with your communication to meet these expectations.

Photo by Matteo Vistocco on Unsplash

To become an open and communicative leader, do this:

1. During 1:1s or business meetings with stakeholders:

   1. Avoid vomiting information; instead, try to gather as much information. 🧠

   2. Set a positive tone to help solve others’ problems and build relationships. “I know we had a setback, but that’s business as usual. I have a plan that will solve it for you…Let’s create success….”.

2. Assign work in a manner that maximizes productivity. 🚀

   1. Delegate the work to either most experienced or interested person.

   2. Explain the role to the person to whom you are delegating.

   3. Set clear expectations, quoting specific, desirable outcomes.

   4. Portray the project as in how it benefits them. “I believe this will help bring your visibility in terms of leadership”.

3. Give actionable feedback:

   1. Ask for permission to give feedback. In most cases, it will be a yes.

   2. Use the sandwich framework: “You did well; however, you could have avoided…”. "But you are on the right path for…”. 👍

   3. Establish clear next steps. “For next time, would you like to practice…?"

4. Inspire and Influence:

   1. Talk less, do more, so that others learn to imitate by seeing rather than hearing you.

   2. Don’t strive to be a hero: “I don’t know everything, and that's fine." Speaking about this creates an environment of psychological safety.

   3. Speak with data-driven inputs and customer empathy in mind. 📊💡

   4. Use simple, short sentences inclusive of humility to influence without authority.

5. Be authentic:

   1. The more people know the “authentic you," the more they can relate to your speech.

   2. If you fear failure, be open about it, but show confidence in your plans. “I am afraid that there are unknown and we may not succeed, but without trying, we lose immediately.” 💪

That’s it for today. If you are wondering “What’s a Reflection Short?” Read here. 📖

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We’re nearing the grand finale of the "Win that Communication" series! The next and final article will be a special collaboration with none other than the author of "Simply Said,"

Jay Sullivan

- whose insights have been a huge inspiration throughout this series. He’s generously agreed to share an exclusive, game-changing endnote on this series, just for you! 🎉

That’s not all! With next chapter closing, our Reflection Series is gearing up for a brand-new series on an exciting topic. Curious to know what’s next? Stay tuned! 😄

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References

• Simply Said: Communicating Better at Work and Beyond

Interesting Reads

1. Regression Towards the Mean - Mental Model by

   Michał Poczwardowski

2. 5 Keys to the Hiring Manager Interview from a Meta Senior Manager by

   Jordan Cutler
   &
   Stefan Mai

3. How to Stay Calm Under Pressure? by

   Raviraj Achar

Let’s Connect 🤝

👋 Hey there, I am Gourav. I write about Engineering, Productivity, Thought Leadership, and the Mysteries of the mind!

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