Leaders Don’t Make Excuses for Poor Communication

Communication is Behavior

How many times have you thought, “Well that’s just the way I am” and used that as a reason for a circumstance in your life?

How many times have you discounted people on your team with the thought, “She’s always been that way.  She can’t change”?

How often do you justify how you talk to someone because you are both “set in your ways”?

Those thoughts are “noble excuses.”  We come to believe and live in a paradigm which becomes our truth – rather, our excuse.  They sound reasonable, but are excuses just the same.  This is never more true than when we are talking about talking.  We get used to the way we show up and we tolerate how others habitually talk with us and never challenge the status quo.  There is a better way.

Remember that Communication is Behavior.

And….

Behavior is

• Observable – You can see it
• Based in Situation – Certain situations produce familiar triggers that can cause you to close off your options
• Flexible – New information can be released, circumstances can come to light, your point of view can change
• Dynamic – Communication situations can build as history meets today, offering an opportunity to see and interpret differently
• Based on Thoughts and Beliefs – This is where it’s tricky unless you are willing to see where you are stuck and could have an opportunity to shift or be open to another’s belief

Emotional Intelligence is built on a high level of Communication Skills.

As you see from the list above, communication can be altered at will.

What that means, is you can adjust or change anything about your communication, listening, feedback, ability to inspire.

All it takes is the capability to see and own your choices and the willingness to do something different.

When you, the Emotionally Intelligent Leader, master this for yourself, you can support others on your team.

No more excuses….just great communication.