Highly-effective leaders chase excellence with a strategic system for communicating their larger vision. When analyzing challenges in organizations and teams, unclear communication often rises to the top of the list. Lack of communication leads to frustration, uncertainty, and unrealized potential for the people and the organization. The separator between excellent and ineffective communication falls on the strategic system of the leader. Here are five key communication strategies that great leaders utilize to chase excellence:
- Communicate the What: The first strategy for chasing excellence is to communicate the what for the team or organization. This includes telling people the larger mission, vision, and goals for the organization. For example, at the beginning of each quarter, the team leader communicates the exact goal for the upcoming quarter. Each person knows the team’s focus for the future.
- Communicate the Why: The second strategy for chasing excellence is to communicate the why for the team. Even though people know what they’re doing moving forward, the underlying why provides purpose and direction for everyone. For example, after providing or developing the goals for the quarter, the leadership team should clearly explain why this particular goal impacts the group moving forward. Communicating the why creates purpose and vision for everyone.
- Communicate the How: The third strategy for chasing excellence is communicating the how behind the what and the why. Most leaders jump to this particular strategy and surpass the first two. Communicating the how means the actions that everyone takes in order to reach the larger goals. For example, after communicating the what and the why, the team then develops a specific process for achieving those goals, and everyone plays a key role. Communicating the how shows the actionable plan.
- Communicate in Various Modes: The fourth strategy for chasing excellence is communicating in various modes: large group meetings, small group meetings, one on ones, email, phone calls, newsletters, social media, and video are all ways to communicate. Utilizing various forms of communication provides a greater possibility of everyone understanding the what, the why, and the how. Most leaders resort to one or two specific modes because it’s most comfortable. For example, after meeting in a large group about the what, why, and how, the leader sends out a memo, has one on ones with everyone, and develops a video that outlines the key areas.
- Communicate Relentlessly: The fifth strategy for chasing excellence is relentlessly communicating the what, the why, and the how. Then, communicating it again. Leaders should err on the side of overcommunication when chasing a significant vision for the future. When leaders fail to over communicate, the void often fills with assumptions or rumors about initiatives. Every interaction with people in the organization is an opportunity to communicate the vision.
Organizations and teams who strive for excellence should start with strategically communicating. Great leaders communicate using the what, why, and how system in order to clearly create a larger vision and strategic action around it. The challenge when relentlessly pursuing excellence revolves around everyone receiving the same message in various modes.
How do you strategically communicate when chasing excellence?