Generally leaders are encouraged to express themselves with confidence and to inspire their audience to collective action. And yet, some studies conducted by communication skills training experts claim that leaders who communicate too powerfully may lessen the success of their organization.
The research, co-authored by Leigh Plunkett Tost, Francesca Gino and Richard Larrick, showed that team performance is diminished when leaders dominate the conversation and appear closed to others’ ideas and participation. There was “a tendency to devalue the perspectives, opinions and contributions of others.” As a result, the teams where leaders talked too much were less likely to accomplish their goals than more egalitarian teams.
The recommendation for leaders who want more from their teams?
- Get rid of your ego and give others the floor.
- Flatten the organization.
- Encourage open communications on teams.
- Be ever mindful of the critical contributions from your work force.
The bottom line? Lead, but do not dominate, with your communications.
Learn more at: http://www.lsaglobal.com/communication-skills-training/
