Jan 20, 20222 min
Updated: Jul 20, 2023
by Stephanie Bickel
When you’re the expert, people look to you for your authority, your value, and your guidance. You’re acting in the best interest of not just the team, but also the organization and its various stakeholders—and that’s a lot of responsibility and a lot of impact.
As an expert, you will be most effective if you can consistently practice these skills for communication for leadership success:
Say what you mean and mean what you say. Be respectful and clear.
Organize your comments logically and purposefully.
Use active verbs and words that are precise and understandable. Don’t use jargon.
Weaker language undermines your authority. Pause instead.
It’s often best to begin with the main point and follow it with appropriate supporting information.
Think first about what is most important to your audience.
Give others the chance to process what you’re saying.
Use intentional gestures, that reinforce, as opposed to distracting from, your message.
Lock and hold instead of scanning the room.
Make sure your audience feels heard.
Posture, hydration, and breathing all contribute to the quality of your voice. Make sure you breathe in between statements and during pauses to keep your voice at the top of its game.
Bring yourself, or others, back on track when necessary.
Anticipate questions or objections. Practice your responses ahead of time.
It’s an honor to be relied upon as an expert. To be at your most effective with communication for leadership success you have to keep earning the team’s respect. Stay humble, and remember that you, too have something to learn from those you’re working with.
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