News from Leadership By Design

News From LBD

May 2013 Volume 5 Issue 5

A short course in Communication and Human Relations

"What we have here is a failure to communicate."

That famous line is from the movie Cool Hand Luke.

Why has it become such a popular cultural catch phrase?

Perhaps because it so aptly describes one of our most common frustrations, miscommunication.

Most effective leaders/communicators have learned not to say "blah blah," "blah blah," "blah blah," when just "blah" will do. They have also adopted the following from this short course on communication and human relations:

The six most important words:

'I admit that I was wrong'

The five most important words:

'You did a great job'

The four most important words:

'What do you think?'

The three most important words:

'Could you please. . .'

The two most important words:

'Thank you'

The most important word:
'We'

The least important word:
'I'

What Leaders are Reading

INSPIRE, PERSUADE, LEAD, Communication Secrets of Excellent Leaders by Paul Batz --

This is a back-to-the-basics book on the skills required for leading and communication today. It features some very practical leadership strategies through his Ten Commandments of Leadership and Communication.

Leadership Tip of The Month

Active Listening

Listening is a key communication and empathy skill. It is a skill that can be developed. Here are some tips to becoming an active listener:

Take Time to Listen.

Concentrate, listen with both ears. You may just learn something.

Be Quiet.

You can't listen when your mouth is moving.

Be Attentive.

Listen with a purpose. Maintain eye contact.

Listen with an Open Mind.

An open mind is healthy and creates a sense of rapport.

Listen for Emotions.

90% of all communication is non verbal.

Listen for Retention.

Occasionally summarize what you are hearing and verbalize it back to the speaker. It is appreciated and helps you retain your thoughts.

To learn how, contact LBD.

John Branstad

Quote of the Month

"Seek first to understand, then to be understood."

- Steven Covey -

John Branstad
www.leadershipbydesign.org
763-213-5267