The Twelve Rules of Communication for Leaders

A Leadership Communication Presentation

Group Members Lê Đạt Quốc Thắng Phạm Trịnh Anh Ngọc Dương Thị Huỳnh Như Đặng Nguyễn Thuỳ Linh

Rule #1: Speak not with a forked tongue› In most cases people just won’t open up

those they don’t trust. If a leader can show they are worthy, people will invest time and take risks.

› Trust is best created by earning it with right acting, thinking, and decisioning.

• Rule #2: Empathise before you communicate“People don’t care how much you know

until they know how much you care.” If you don’t develop meaningful relationships with people you’ll never know what’s really on their mind until it’s too late to do anything about it.

Rule #3: Deliver specific information› Specificity is better than

Ambiguity.› Simple and concise is always

better than complicated and confusing.

› Your goal is to weed out the superfluous and to make your words count.

• Rule #4: Use informal and formal channelsAside from doing your daily job such as

submitting newsletters and email;Take time to make informal

communication at the desk of a key person, or over drinks, or on the way back from a client visit.

Rule #5: Be a smart listener› Too many people spend their time talking about how

they think something works, when they could just listen to someone who knows.

› “But if you must talk, ask questions. People learn more from your questions than from your answers. It makes them think and explore the choices with you.”

• Rule #6: Give an answer in appropriate timeIf you do know an answer beyond a shadow

of a doubt, say something.“Back up your position with data. You don’t

win arguments by saying ‘I think.’ You win by saying ‘Let me show you.’ ”

Rule #7: Read between the lines› Great leaders have the uncanny ability

to understand what is not said, witnessed, or heard.

› Keep your eyes & ears open and your mouth shut and you’ll be amazed at how your level or organizational awareness is raised.

• Rule #8: Know what you’re talking about“It’s not what you say, but how you

say it that matters.”Develop a technical command over

your subject matter. If you don’t possess subject matter expertise, few people will give you the time of day.

Rule #9: Have an open mind› The rigidity of a closed mind is the single

greatest limiting factor of new opportunities.

› Open dialogs with those that confront you, challenge you, stretch you, and develop you. Remember that it’s not the opinion that matters, but rather the willingness to discuss it with an open mind.

NEW IDEAS !!!!

• Rule #10: Celebrate wins and tell success storiesSmall and frequent. Success

builds belief. Share the news of A’s biggest placement, B’s first retained order, a key new client won. People want to work with winners and love to hear positive stories. They are happening every day. Communicate them!

Rule #11: Share confidential information regularly› Sensitive stuff such as: the company results,

margins, client revenues, etc.› Sharing this piece of information builds trust

within the people, and they will become mature and will value being brought into the inner circle.

• Rule #12: Speak to groups as individualsGreat communicators can tailor

a message such that they can speak to 10 people in a conference room or 1,000 people in an auditorium and have them feel as if you were speaking directly to each one of them as an individual.

References Greg Savage, 10 Golden Rules of

Communication for Leaders @ gregsavage.com.au

Mike Myatt, 10 Communication Tips for Leaders @ n2growth.com

42 Rules to Lead by from the Man Who Defined Google’s Product Strategy, an article about Jonathan Rosenberg’s lecture @ firstround.com

THE ENDTHANK YOU FOR

YOUR ATTENTION!!