Strong communication skills are a core leadership function. As a leader, it is important to be a skilled communicator in order to express ideas and share information with a variety of audiences. Effective leaders understand how powerful an opportunity can be when they can tap into the intelligence, wisdom, and innovation that is present in their workforce. Conversational leadership provides the space and infrastructure for knowledge sharing to take place. Moreover, conversational leadership allows employees, stakeholders, and the community to be involved in discussing big, important questions, as well as provides the ability to generate solutions that people within the organization can act on.
Conversational leadership is a leader’s use of conversation as a keyway to create business and social value. Conversational leadership encompasses both a pattern of thinking and a set of practices that are incredibly important for success.
One of the best ways to improve your leadership skills is through conversational leadership training. Conversational leadership training will teach individuals how to both design meaningful conversations and build personal skills.
Below are five essential ways for individuals to communicate more effectively:
- Communicate information and ideas clearly.
- Say what you mean and be direct.
- Listen and encourage input.
- Illustrate through stories.
- Affirm what you communicate through actions.