COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP

by: MOHD FADZIL AZMA BIN MAT SAAD

Introduction

A leader could be anyone, as the person who has charge taking attitude is a leader. He could be a prime minister of any nation or an executive working in an organization. These people have cluster of leadership qualities, but are not able to lead if they are not good communicators. Communication enables them to share what they have and what they expect from others.

 Effective and accurate communication act as an essential factor to grow as an efficient and successful leader or manager. To achieve professional success, a leader must be effective and convincing communicators. It is important that leader and their team or follower to learn how to communicate perfectly as this will not only help them to complete their projects or mission successfully, but also enable organizations or movement to achieve success and growth.

According to many researchers, leader is one who has an ability to take charge, direct, encourage, or stimulate others. They have an attitude to convince others and to make them follow the goals or the participles defined by them (Anthony, 2019). They are results oriented hence, well trained and expert in controlling difficult to difficult conditions and help to enhance the outputs of teams working with him. Both politic and business world require an effective leader to move their organization.  Without perfect ability to communicate, it can be said that the leader won’t be able to move the organization to their goal (Anthony, 2019). The organization will unable to move forward and will stagnate. Good communication skills help to develop better understanding and beliefs among people inspire them to follow the principles and values which their leader wants to inculcate in them. In the absence of good communication skills, a leader will fail to achieve the goals set by him and by the organizations and a makes him an infective leader.            

What is communication?

Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages through verbal or nonverbal means, including speech, or oral communication; writing and graphical representations (such as info graphics, maps, and charts); and signs, signals, and behavior. More simply, communication is said to be "the creation and exchange of meaning." (Nordquist, 2019) All creatures on earth have developed means in which to convey their emotions and thoughts to one another. However, it's the ability of humans to use words and language to transfer specific meanings that sets them apart from the animal kingdom.

Types of Communication

There are several different ways people share information with one another. For example, some might use verbal communication when sharing a presentation with a group. Some also might use written communication when applying for a job or sending an email.

There are four main categories or communication styles including verbal, nonverbal, written and visual:

1. Verbal

Verbal communication is the use of language to transfer information through speaking or sign language. It is one of the most common types, often used during presentations, video conferences and phone calls, meetings and one-on-one conversations. Verbal communication is important because it is efficient. It can be helpful to support verbal communication with both nonverbal and written communication.

2. Nonverbal

Nonverbal communication is the use of body language, gestures and facial expressions to convey information to others. It can be used both intentionally and unintentionally. For example, you might smile unintentionally when you hear a pleasing or enjoyable idea or piece of information. Nonverbal communication is helpful when trying to understand others’ thoughts and feelings.

If they are displaying “closed” body language such as crossed arms or legs, or hunched shoulders, they might be feeling anxious, angry or nervous. If they are displaying “open” body language with both feet on the floor and arms by their side or on the table, they are likely feeling positive and open to information.

3. Written

Written communication is the act of writing, typing or printing symbols like letters and numbers to convey information. It is helpful because it provides a record of information for reference. Writing is commonly used to share information through books, pamphlets, blogs, letters, memos and more. Emails and chats are a common form of written communication in the workplace.

4. Visual

Visual communication is the act of using photographs, art, drawings, sketches, charts and graphs to convey information. Visuals are often used as an aid during presentations to provide helpful context alongside written and/or verbal communication. Because people have different learning styles, visual communication might be more helpful for some to consume ideas and information.

What is leadership?

Leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of individuals to influence and guide followers or other members of an organization.  Leadership involves voicing his thinking, and sometimes making difficult decisions, creating and articulating a clear vision, establishing achievable goals and providing followers with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve those goals (Rouse, 2017).

Leaders are found and required in most aspects of society, from business to politics to region to community-based organizations (Rouse, 2017). An effective leader possess the following characteristics: self-confidence, strong communication and management skills, creative and innovative thinking, perseverance in the face of failure, willingness to take risks, openness to change, and levelheadedness and creativeness in times of crisis.

In business, individuals who exhibit these leadership qualities can ascend to executive management or C-level positions, such as CEO, CIO or president. Noteworthy individuals who have exhibited strong leadership in the technology industry include Apple founder Steve Jobs, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos (Rouse, 2017).

In politic, leaders are essentially important. Through the authority of government, they assess the distribution of power and resources, build relationships with other stakeholders and make decisions that can have great impact on the well-being of a nation and its people. (Cohen, 2018)

Leadership in the political framework requires a focus on the long-term good of a country, above and ahead of any personal short-term gains. Good political leadership requires a combination of charisma and integrity, as well as the ability to assess a situation and make a decision based on what would be best for the greatest number of people (Cohen, 2018). Most of all, leadership in a political framework requires ‘statesmanship’ – as opposed to just being a ‘politician’ – this means having the integrity and willingness to stand up for what is right, even if it means resigning a position in government or losing an election.

What communication is important for a leader?

Throughout history, the greatest leaders have also been motivators, able to encourage others to work toward a common goal. This ability to motivate has largely been a result of solid communication skills. Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, two of the most effective leaders in history, approached challenges in different ways, but both excelled at communication. Following the examples of these great leaders, it is critical that leader prioritize and hone their communication skills to successfully guide their teams and drive overall productivity (Judson, 2018). The utmost essential key to great leadership is communication. A Leader is among one of the follower with exceptional skills set and in one situation or another he has potential to step forward to take charge and mentor others who lack experience and skill set, tries to inculcate skills by motivating them and help them in achieving their individual, team and organizational targets. To become a great leader one should be a great communicator. Great leaders are always considered as first-class communicators, they have a clear set of values and they always believe in promoting and inculcating those values in others. It is due to this reason that their teams appreciate them and follow them as a leader. Being great communicator does not mean great talker.

Great communicator speaks in confidence and never gets confused because of the knowledge they possess. They have ability to connect to passions and ambitions while communicating their ideas with others. They are aware of the thing that if fails to connect with the audience they might not be able pass their idea to them and purpose of communication will not be achieved (Mitchell, 2017). The best communicators always have a unique quality of listening peacefully to what others are speaking. This makes them good observer and enables them to read a person or group’s mind by analyzing the attitudes, behavior, activities, ideals, anxieties and are able to modify their messages according to the situation. Leaders who communicate effectively to encourage and stimulate their people are considered to be the best leaders or managers.

Good communication skills support in creating an atmosphere for exceptional understandings of what is being communicated and encourage follower to blindly follow their leader. Thus, to become an expert in leadership communication is indispensable priority for leader who wants to attain excellence and remarkable growth in their professional career. A leader should make sure that communication is continuous and also ensure the appropriate use both informal and formal approaches (Mitchell, 2017). It is very good to use a combination of formal and informal approaches while communicating. Informal means of communication helps to get exact and more regular evaluations to report concerns more rapidly. Informal interaction during breakfast meetings, roundtable meetings are always proved effective and helpful for discussing and finding solutions of various issues like trust and credibility whereas formal approaches require proper planning and execution.

Martin Luther King: The Epitome of Inspirational Leader with Super Communication Skill

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. Dr. King grew up as the son of a leading Minister in Atlanta, Georgia, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. His mother, Mrs. Alberta Williams King, assisted her husband in the care of his congregation. Because of their efforts and interest in behalf of the congregation and the community, his parents were known as 'Momma' and 'Daddy' King (Zunes, 2009). His community, centered on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta also influenced him. By the 1930s when he was a child, it was the center of business and social life in Black Atlanta and the major center for the Black Southeast. The community was so successful that nationwide, it was known as "Sweet Auburn". The residential neighborhoods of the community, and especially the one where Dr. King was born were known for the diversity of the backgrounds of the residents (Zunes, 2009). Though all Black, the neighborhoods had business people, laborers, college-educated, uneducated, rich, poor and successful all living close to each other. Communication was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr forte. He is known as one of America’s most influential speakers, even 52 years after he gave his iconic “I Have a Dream…” speech.

During this speech, King captivated his audience with poetic language and thought-provoking ideas. He painted a picture of how life could be instead of focusing on the negative aspects of how life was. Even though violence was common around the country, King advocated the positive outcomes of an equal society, gained through dignity and discipline.

He didn’t accuse others of committing wrongs or encourage people to act violently. King used positive language to make his point of the benefits of taking the high road. Positive language is powerful because it makes your message absolutely clear to your audience.

Dr Martin Luther King Leadership Style.

1. He clearly communicates a concrete and powerful vision.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Had a dream which he clearly articulated to his followers, giving them clear call to action and inspiring them to share his vision and to show support. This is one characteristic that made him quite popular. People want to follow someone who has a clear direction of where he is going or where he’s taking his followers. People want someone who cares about their values, needs, wants hopes and aspirations.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. shared what very well may be the most powerful and transformative Vision Statement ever made. The speech contained a bold, transformative vision that everyone, regardless of race, could understand, relate to and aspire to create. Adding to the power of this vision is that it does not require Dr. King’s presence to bring it to reality. Everyone can participate in the dream and participate in making it real. King believed all men are created equal and should enjoy the same rights and privileges. One of his most poignant lines from his famous "I Have a Dream" speech was that he hoped his children would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.

His goal was to turn people's minds so they'd come to the same understanding. As such, he staged nonviolent strikes, protests, and speeches. He fiercely ingrained the notion of nonviolent protests into his followers' hearts and minds. After his home was bombed in 1956, what did he do? He and his members fervently prayed for their oppressors in church pews.

Dr. King was one of the best leaders in modern history in getting people to believe in his dream, to get people to embrace his vision and mission and support him unconditionally. 

2. He shows courage even in the face of threats and real danger.

Nearly everyone is vulnerable during civil rights struggle in United States of America. Those with the upper hand will oppress the weak, which can lead to anger and retaliation. But Martin Luther King Jr had the courage to face the risks and pursued non-violent call to arms. He did not show reluctance or even wavered when threats was thrown his way. Even until the day he died, King never allowed fear to triumph. He unified people together under a common goal. Today, United States citizen won’t be able to find black people and white people forced to sit in separate sections on a bus or drink from separate water fountains in a public space. Although prejudice remains, the tide is shifting in a way where the racists of the world are scorned, and not innocent African Americans.

What is even more impressive about Dr King is he encouraged others by telling them cold hard facts and by not sugar-coating reality. Through his speeches, he told his followers the reality of the situation no matter how painful it may seem.

“But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.” – Excerpts from “I Have a Dream”

Dr King makes use of emotive words; his tone is undulating and his language rich in visual imagery. His aim is to clearly outline but also to persuade us to change people minds. People are driven by much more than facts, engage the audiences’ feelings. Everyone can see in the speech clear uses of energy and enthusiasm that keeps the audience hanging on his every word.

3. He is the master in the arts of communication.

His communication skills are always impressive, especially in the way he delivers the message, moving heart through his words. Not everyone may achieve his level of communication skills, but a good leader will work hard to enhance to perfect his own skills in effective listening communication. How else can leader convey his visions clearly if he lacks the ability to communicate well? It is very easy to persuade action from others if a leader can authentically speak with great confidence and conviction. Part of effective communication is learning how to tell relevant stories, metaphors, and also full with confidence. Another reason Dr King’s speech was so brilliant is because he included colorful language and used his words to paint a picture in the minds of listeners. King used metaphors throughout the entire speech, bringing simple sentences to life. A few examples include:

·         Comparing the Declaration of Independence, in which every American is guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, to a bad check that African-American’s attempted to cash, but was returned due to insufficient funds.

·         Comparing segregation to a dark and desolate valley, and comparing racial justice to a sunlit path.

·         Comparing the desire for freedom as a thirst, and comparing the road of violent actions to “drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”

4. He showed faith in his followers’ abilities and openly acknowledged them.

Outstanding leaders like Dr. King don’t take on the world all by themselves, they build movements. Although many of America’s greatest civil rights victories are associated with names like Dr. King and Rosa Parks, historic moments are rarely the actions of a single person. Comprehensive change often relies on the mobilization of large groups of people. The March on Washington (and the “I Have a Dream” speech) is remembered in part because more than 200,000 people came together to demand equality in civil rights and voting rights, along with action on education, employment, and housing.

Dr King’s speech was written for the average American, so he used plain language to deliver a clear message that was understood by everyone. In his speech of ‘’I had a dream.’’, Martin Luther King Jr said, “I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecutions and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.”

The very act of showing someone believed in another person, he will have the power to bring out the best in someone and encourage him to do more and work harder. When times are tough, knowing that their work matters will motivate people to do better and give more.

Conclusion

A leader cannot become an effective leader until unless he is an excellent communicator and must use his this ability to let individuals follows him. He must have knowledge and will be able to communicate that knowledge to others at work. Must have the competences to motivate follower to achieve which seems to be impossible for others. Communication makes a leader effective who develops better understanding in teams of their follower and organization.

Even though everyone is not born to lead, they can still make a difference within their organization. One can possess different leadership traits that will help them to be effective leaders within their organization. Dr. King was the one person within his group of African Americans to take charge. He excelled in every aspect, especially his communication skill, to convince and lead his people to being treated as equal. The leadership traits that he possessed allowed him to fulfill his dream. Dr. King showed that he was the best leader that he could be, by cladding himself with powerful communication skill. Even though he is no longer alive, his legacy lives on. 

Bibliography

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