Transcript Managerial Communication Introduction and Course Overview

Introducing Leadership
Communication
Lectures Based on
Leadership Communication
By Deborah J. Barrett, Ph.D.
McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Discussion Topics
 Understanding the importance of
communication
 Projecting a positive leadership ethos
 Defining leadership communication
 Explaining the three skill levels
 Establishing your own communication
improvement plan
Introduction - 2
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Communication Occupies a
Manager’s Day
Managers spend most of their time involved
in communication:
 CEOs average 36 written and 16 verbal
contacts per day.*
 Managers spend two-thirds to three-
quarters of their time in verbal activity.*
*Mintzberg, H. The Nature of Managerial Work, pp. 31, 38.
Introduction - 3
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 4
Communication Moves Organizations
Without effective communication, nothing can
happen in an organization:
“Communication and action within large and
complex organizations . . . are inseparable.”*
“Without the right words, used in the right
way, it is unlikely that the right actions will
ever occur.”*
*Eccles, R.G. & N. Nohria. Beyond the Hype: Discovering
the Essence of Management, pp. 211, 209.
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 5
Leadership Depends on Communication
“Effective leadership is still largely a matter of
communication. . . . An effective leader thinks
about what he says, carefully crafting each
utterance of any significance.”*
Effective leadership depends
on effective communication.
*Axelrod, A. Elizabeth I CEO: Strategic Lessons from the Leader
Who Built an Empire, p. 55.
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 6
Communication Seems Simple
Context
Message
Sender
Receiver
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 7
Interferences Often Prevent
Successful Communication
Message
 Inappropriate context
 Unclear message
 No audience analysis
 Illogical structure
 Muddled thinking
 Poor formatting
 Wrong medium
 Offensive tone
 Wrong spokesperson
 Poor usage or style
 Poor timing
 Cognitive dissonance
 Cultural
misconceptions
 Negative ethos
 Questionable ethics
Sender
Receiver
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 8
Ethos is One of the Persuasive Appeals
Persuasive
Appeals
Ethos
Pathos
Logos
Ethos is . . .
 The perceived
character of
the sender of a
message
 The most
important
persuasive
appeal
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 9
A Positive Ethos Can be Created
The inner
character:
The outward
manifestations:
Honest
 Attractive
Honorable
 Charismatic
Truthful
 Expert
Fair
 Possessing
Ethical
position or
title
A Positive
Ethos
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 10
A Positive Ethos is Integral to
Leadership Communication
Leadership communication . . .
 Is the controlled, purposeful transfer of meaning
by which leaders influence a single person, a
group, an organization, or a community.
 Uses the full range of communication skills and
resources to overcome interferences and to
create and deliver messages that guide, direct,
motivate, or inspire others to action.
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 11
Leadership Communication Spirals Outward
from Core to Managerial to Corporate Skills
Corporate
Managerial
Internal
Relations
Core
Strategy
Meetings
Writing
Emotional/ Speaking
Cultural
Literacy
Teams
External
Relations
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 12
Mastering Leadership Communication
Requires Achieving Several Objectives
Learning to
1. Project a positive ethos in writing and speaking
2. Analyze audiences and target messages to them
3. Develop effective communication strategy for all
situations
4. Select and use the most effective media to reach
all audiences
5. Create well organized, coherent documents
6. Write clear, concise, correct business prose
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 13
Mastering Leadership Communication Requires
Achieving Several Objectives (continued)
Learning to
7. Deliver presentations with confidence
8. Display emotional intelligence and cultural
literacy
9. Lead small groups productively, whether in teams
and meetings
10. Develop a vision and internal messages that
guide and motivate employees
11. Design and deliver external messages to reach
stakeholders with positive and effective results.
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 14
The First Step Toward Leadership
Communication is Improvement Planning
1. Assess your leadership communication skills
 Use the self-assessment in Leadership
Communication
 Obtain input from others
2. Select your preferred leadership
communication roles in your career
3. Determine your short-term and long-term
leadership communication objectives
4. Outline a communication development plan
that includes a list of specific actions
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 15
Having a Communication Development
Plan (CDP) is Important
1. Provides a clear roadmap to reach defined
personal communication improvement goals
2. Identifies targeted improvement areas for oral,
written, and interpersonal skills
3. Establishes specific approaches to achieving
goals in each area
4. Confirms the commitment to spending time on
your specific communication skill needs
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 16
Suggested CDP Content
1. Current assessment:
 List of strengths and weaknesses in written,
oral, and interpersonal communications
 Honest self-assessment with input from
others
2. Communication improvement goals:
 Very specific and measurable
 With easier-to-reach and stretch goals
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 17
Suggested CDP Content (continued)
3. Improvement approach and timetable:
 Clear and specific actions to reach
each goal
 Deadlines that ensure achieving goals
by your established time period
4. Measurement:
 Built in accountability measures
 Specific methods for measuring your
progress
Leadership Communication by Deborah J. Barrett
Introduction - 18
Discussion Summary
 Communication is important for managers
and essential for leaders.
 Effective leadership communication requires
projecting a positive ethos.
 Leadership communication can be defined
and developed.
 Leadership communication proficiency
begins with core skills and expands outward
to managerial and corporate.
 A major component of leadership
communication is an improvement plan.