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Response to article  Five Communication Skills that Make Good Leaders Great

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Response to article  Five Communication Skills that Make Good Leaders Great

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Tyler, I think your article was spot on as it relates to communication skills. It made me think about the importance of communicating even when you are not speaking. The ability to control your non verbals and respond to the non verbals of your audience speaks to your self awareness and the awareness of those in which you lead. Reading through this article also reminded me of communication builds trust in a facets. Trust a one of the most important factors in leadership and communication can you build that early on as a novice leader.

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Tyler, the article you shared on communication and leadership is dead on correct. Great leaders are also great communicators. Communication in this day and age is different than just being able to speak effectively, it is also reading the room, listening and responding effectively as well. I personally plan out my conversations prior to having them (even though it makes me feel a little nuts sometimes). This prework allows me to have some sort of idea of where the conversation will go and how to respond to questions and concerns. Administrators need to use all these tools to become effective communicators. If they cannot effectively communicate with their staff, then the educational systems as a whole suffers. Thank you for posting this article.

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This is a great article showing how different levels of leadership looks. Level 5 leaders are the most effective leaders who mix both their emotions and their will to be successful. These two traits allow good leaders to become great leaders. I have had leaders who are driven to be successful and I have had some who lead with their emotions. All of these leaders were good at their jobs, but were not great leaders and tended to have a large amount of dissension in the ranks.  I believe if we ever had a administrator that truly combined these two traits then we would have less turnover and more successful students.

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Tyler, Thank you sharing this post. I knew some of the aspects of the ESSA law, but sadly not as much as I should know due to being out of the education field for 10 years. This article was uplifting to read. For many years, I have heard the phrase that hands are tied and changes are not possible due to the government. I have also heard that the government makes all these decisions without understanding the educators and students that the laws and policies affect. I have been learning and reading been changes that are being made in the education system to improve student learning. I am excited to read that the government is making the same changes to improve education. It is very important for all stakeholders to be involved in the legal processes as laws and policies are made concerning education. With a full committee discussing the concerns, resources, and legal aspects all viewpoints are taken into consideration to make the best decisions for the students. I agree that local school districts need the authority to make changes and improvements that directly benefit their district students and employees. Every school district has its own challenges to overcome and unique needs for their students. This law helps all schools provide a better learning environment for all students across the nation. Another important aspect from this article was trying to ensure that poverty schools have the same resources and highly-qualified educators as the richer school districts. Since I have been in both types of schools, I have learned that there is a very distinct difference in the schools and the graduates from each school.  If we truly want to help the poverty students have better chances to securing a job to be a productive citizen, they need the same education and experiences to compete in the job market. After reading this article, I know I need to educate myself more on the ESSA law.
Crystal Berry
Posted on 7/22/18, updated on 7/23/18 to add my name.

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What Else Makes a Company Great?

Collins discovered that truly remarkable companies are defined by aspects other than leadership. However, it is the responsibility of Level 5 executives to understand these elements and master them effectively.

First Who

Level 5 leaders understand the importance of putting people first and strategy second. This means finding the right people for the organization, getting rid of the wrong ones, and putting employees in the appropriate positions, all before addressing business tactics.

Stockdale Paradox

This element is named after Admiral James Stockdale, a POW during the Vietnam War who expressed a notably contradictory belief system. To survive, he told himself, "Life couldn't be worse at the moment, and his life would someday be better than ever." In business, this translates to accepting difficult realities of a business's current condition, while believing that the organization will one day rise above them.

Buildup-Breakthrough Flywheel

Collins refers to the building of a great company as a metaphorical "flywheel." Truly great organizations gradually build up momentum until a "breakthrough" moment where overwhelming success clicks into place. This element is defined by a company's commitment to a slow and steady build.

The Hedgehog Concept

Derived from an essay by the philosopher Isaiah Berlin, the "hedgehog concept" refers to a comparison between the abilities of a hedgehog and a fox. In the essay, foxes are characterized as knowing a little about a lot of subjects, while hedgehogs know a lot about a single thing. Collins believes businesses that act like hedgehogs are more likely to achieve greatness. Hedgehog behavior means understanding three things:

1. What a company is capable of being best at

2. How its economics can work most effectively

3. What best makes its people passionate

Focusing on these three factors, Collins explains, eliminates unnecessary and unprofitable efforts elsewhere.

Technology Accelerators

Great companies have a particular relationship with technology. On the one hand, they refrain from using technology simply because it's trendy or cutting edge. However, they do make investments in technologies that help contribute to its mission. These decisions are made with a careful and discerning eye.

A Culture of Discipline

Collins believes great companies exhibit remarkable discipline in three areas: people, thought and action. Disciplined people, he explains, eliminate the need for hierarchy. Disciplined thought removes bureaucracy. And disciplined action eliminates the need for excessive control. Together, all three result in extraordinary business performance.

Gaining mastery and understanding in these areas isn't quite enough, however. Level 5 leaders must also be cautious of pitfalls.

When Things Go Wrong

Even when the factors of success fall into place, Level 5 leaders must remain constantly vigilant. No company is invulnerable. Circuit City is a prime example of what can happen when a successful business becomes lax. One of Collins's original 11 "great" companies, the electronics giant went out of business in 2009, directly impacting more than 250,000 people. Documentarian Tom Wulf identifies three causes of Circuit City's remarkable downfall.

Overconfidence and Complacency

Wulf describes how Circuit City's leaders, steering a company with the No. 1 performing stock on the New York Stock Exchange, failed to watch the progress of their competitors. Before long, Circuit City's annual revenue was surpassed by its rivals.

Poor Decision-Making Processes

When faced with the reality of becoming No. 2 in their industry, company leaders tried to compensate through several untested initiatives. Doing so resulted in poor changes to their store layouts, the elimination of their highly successful employee training program and outsourcing of many operational processes. All of these factors contributed to additional falling revenue.

Favoring Stakeholders Over Customers and Associates

As revenue declined, the value of the company's stocks followed. This resulted in pressure from stockholders for the company to buy back $920 million worth of stock. Company leaders did so, thus disregarding an opportunity to use that money to reinvest in operations.

These failings illustrate a certain combination of hubris and timidity that Level 5 leaders notably lack. On Collins's leadership scale, executives at Circuit City were perhaps at Level 4. To reach Level 5 would have meant innately having - or else acquiring - certain crucial personal characteristics, attitudes and decision-making processes.

Level 4 vs. Level 5

So how does one get from Level 4 to Level 5? Doing so isn't easy. As mentioned above, Level 5 leaders possess a certain distinct combination of professional will and personal humility.

Professional will means:

Doing what must be done, no matter how difficult

Giving credit for your company's success to others, to external factors and to good luck, instead of your own actions

Generating excellence in a company's outcomes

Taking actions to ensure the company will endure beyond your tenure

Personal humility means:

Never being boastful or welcoming of public praise

Working with calm determination

Emphasizing a standard of excellence over your ability to inspire through charisma

Using personal ambition to make the company greater, rather than making yourself successful

Looking to yourself when things go wrong instead of to others, external factors or bad luck

Essentially, Collins explains, Level 4 and Level 5 leaders are distinguished by what they choose to do with their ambitions and talent. While Level 4 leaders may run successful companies, they tend to do so in an egotistical, self-fulfilling manner. On the other hand, Level 5 leaders run their companies in the spirit of service. While one fails to prepare the company for success after his or her departure, the other takes great care in doing so.

Although reaching Level 5 leadership is a challenge, it is not without reward. Individuals who reach Level 5 leadership in their careers are compensated with tremendous responsibility, respect and perhaps best of all, a legacy of extraordinary influence on their companies.

Becoming Great

The path to great leadership begins with an exceptional degree. At Lesley University, the online Master of Science in Management program trains students with a multidimensional approach to solving today's business issues in a global economy. Because the program is offered fully online, students receive the utmost flexibility in their education.

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Collins discovered that truly remarkable companies are defined by aspects other than leadership. However, it is the responsibility of Level 5 executives to understand these elements and master them effectively. Level 5 leaders understand the importance of putting people first and strategy second.

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by Mary Ellen Clark

Great leadership starts with a person who is passionate about her mission to serve others and who creates a positive work environment in which her team can thrive. She leads by example, with her own values and morals in alignment with the mission of the organization. She also inspires her team to share their strengths and creative ideas, and she encourages their personal and professional growth.

A great leader values the people in the organization, delivering praise and recognition, when appropriate, and challenges its team members to rise up to their full potential if productivity declines.

A great leader has the innate ability to put right-minded people on the bus, sharing the mission and vision of the company, while effectively communicating each person's role so that everyone feels valued and important to the team.

A great leader is respected, and is action-oriented with a realistic plan and belief that small tasks done well and consistently create bigger wins and accomplishments.

When working with a great leader, one feels important to the team, valued for her knowledge and capabilities, supported, mentored, informed, challenged and heard.

A great leader is open minded to ideas, and willing to change direction when a shift will help the organization. She keeps her door open, encourages ideas and feedback, and is an excellent listener.

A great Leader surrounds herself with a loyal support staff and welcomes the help of other great leaders, all in the selfless interest of the success of her team, her teammates, and her organization. She is responsible, takes ownership, and has great pride in her team.

She may be very charismatic or may be low-key in her delivery of information and requests, but she absolutely has integrity, is honest, and has a positive mindset.

She is a hard worker and tries to lead a balanced life, taking care of her health and wellbeing, while being present and available to her family and friends, whom she loves and supports.

A great leader can create a professional, yet family-like atmosphere and work environment that inspires, empowers, and shines the light on others, making everyone feel valued and successful.

Some say great leaders are born, while others step into the role based on life experiences. Either way, their character precedes them and their actions, and human kindness dictates how effective they are to creating success with the organization.

I challenge all of you to continue great leadership in your field of work so that we can all make a positive impact on peoples' lives, communities, organizations and the world. Since we are all here to serve others, we might as well do it with class, integrity and greatness!
Mary Ellen Clark is a sought after motivational speaker for business and other conferences and is also a highly successful diving coach.
Mary Ellen is one of America's greatest divers, a seven time National Champion. She won medals for the U.S. at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. I first got to know Mary Ellen as a board member of the Women's Sports Foundation, and have been an ardent admirer of her since, especially for her being such an inspiring role model for women and girls, as well as for men and boys, on the benefits of physical activity and competitive sports. It is her passion to help people be their best selves. Mary Ellen's knowledge and enthusiasm also influences many in their business careers through her positive, can-do attitude and glowing belief in dedication and teamwork. Oh, and the timing of Mary Ellen being our guest leader is perfect. Her birthday is next week, Christmas Day!

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by Mary Ellen Clark Great leadership starts with a person who is passionate about her mission to serve others and who creates a positive work environment in which her team can thrive. She leads by example, with her own values and morals in alignment with the mission of the organization.

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Tyler, Your article over communication shows the skills that I would hope every educational leader possesses. Communication is key in getting items completed and further more enhancing things already in place. Interesting how listening is a skill that leaders should have obtained, there are many instances where those in a position of power only speak at others and never listen. While expressing your thoughts to others is a good concept, listening and truly understanding others is just as important. Effective leaders know how to address a situation and listen to the needs of their people. "Great communicators are made, not born", this tells us that there is room for improvement. Every leader has the chance to become a great communicator. Great share - JRN

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Tyler, I enjoyed your article. It sort of reviewed the "basics" to communication which I think is so important. Nonverbal communication is often forgotten about when it gives such clarity to what people are really thinking. I find myself sometimes slouched over and do not notice until my students ask if I feel okay. These subtle little things actually say a lot to the people around us. And as future leaders, we must be even more aware to what vibe we portray to others. Thanks for sharing!

- Jessica Davis
Angelo State
Curriculum and Instruction

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ASCD: Professional Learning & Community for Educators

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This article discusses five skills that help make leaders great communicators

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Whether you're the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or a teenage entrepreneur just starting out, communication skills are vitally important. Great leaders motivate, encourage and inspire. They also train people, share new ideas and negotiate. These activities have one thing in common: They all require excellent communication.

Here are five communication skills that make good leaders great:
1. Interpreting Body Language
In his book, Introducing Body Language - A Practical guide, Glenn Wilson writes: "Where body language conflicts with the words that are being said, the body language will usually be the more 'truthful' in the sense of revealing true feelings." That's why the most successful leaders are always paying attention to people's unseen language and nonverbal cues.

When you're able to read thoughts and sentiments that aren't revealed by a person's words, you have many clear advantages. Take interviewing, for example. By learning non-verbal signs, you can oftentimes determine how honest a candidate is being with you. You can also tell if someone is comfortable with what you're saying, and whether the person feels confident in what they are saying to you. Reading body language also gives you an advantage during negotiations, selling, delivering presentations and speeches, and conducting meetings.

Also, when you know how to read body language, you'll be able to master the art and science of projecting effective body language to those around you. Exuding honesty, confidence and leadership is just as important as being able to read these traits in others.
2. Video Skills
As a leader in today's visual-centric world having skills when it comes to video is paramount. No, I don't mean shooting cat videos, not that there's anything wrong with that. What I am referring to is how you present yourself in video form and the quality of the video itself.

See below for the verbal skills needed as these will also apply to video, of course. Speaking is not just for in person after all.

As for the quality or production of the video, a lot will depend on the size of the company or brand you're working for. If you're the CMO or leader at a big company you more than likely have access to either an in-house agency or external agency to handle your video needs. Or if you're a CMO at a smaller company or entrepreneur you may want to look at using companies such as Fiverr, Freelancer.com or GigBucks for a quality freelancer.

The production quality of a video is just as important as the words you use.
3. Listening Carefully
In our modern, global society, the skill of listening has taken a back seat. Voice inflections, verbal pauses and eye contact have been replaced with texts, thumbs-up icons and emoticons. While electronic communications make long-distance interaction easier than ever before, it has unfortunately hindered our ability to really listen during an information-rich conversation. This is unfortunate, because skillful listening enables you to catch details that others miss. Many epiphanies and business solutions have been reached thanks to a good listener's ability to pick up on a hidden gem.

One excellent way to immediately improve your listening ability is to practice empathetic listening. Try to feel excited when the person you're listening to is excited, or concern when the other person is concerned. Reflect the other person's emotions not only verbally, but also with your facial expressions. It isn't always easy, and it takes a bit of energy, but it will help you tune in to the thoughts and emotions of anybody you're having a conversation with.
4. Crystal Clear Verbal Communication
As a general rule, people do not listen attentively. Therefore, it's your job as a leader to speak as clearly and effectively as possible. So don't use words that aren't understood by most people. Not only will your message be lost, but you'll run the risk of sounding arrogant. Remember, the goal of communication is clarity.

Also, prepare your conversations in advance. There's no rule that says a conversation needs to be purely improvised. When you know you are going to have an important discussion, take as much time as needed to plan your words and sentences. Think about objections people may have toward your opinions or solutions, and prepare convincing answers to the objections. Preparation always pays off.

Another way many people improve their verbal communication skills is to read more often. Whether it's your favorite business journal, a well-authored blog, or even a sci-fi novel, reading from articulate authors greatly helps your verbal communications.

Lastly, spend some time watching speeches, debates, or presentations on YouTube. When you listen to people of inspiration speak convincingly to an audience, you'll quickly discover that your own verbal skills improve.
5. Writing Skills
It's true that smart executives and entrepreneurs can use agencies or hire freelancers who specialize in the complete production process of video & animation for fairly routine projects like speeches and presentations. However, it's still very important that you're able to write well on a day-to-day basis. After all, you certainly can't hire someone every time you need to write a convincing email.

Well you probably could but it woudln't be very cost effective.

You don't have to dig through your attic and dust off your old English Grammar textbooks. You do, however, need to be concise and direct when you write. One way to write better is to remove unneeded words. Excellent writers say a lot with as few words as possible. For example, compare the following sentences:

Sentence A: "After the morning meeting has been completed and everyone is dismissed, there will be a networking event with coffee and donuts for those of you who choose to attend."

Sentence B: "After the morning meeting, we hope you'll join us for coffee and donuts at the networking event.

Sentence B not only sounds better. It's quicker for the audience to read.
Great Communicators Are Made, Not Born
If you lack any or all of these skills, don't be discouraged. Spend a little bit of time each day learning, reading, and practicing essential communication techniques. It may seem difficult to become an excellent communicator, but with practice, you'll soon discover that you can do it. And who knows? You might even discover that you're a natural.

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Five Communication Skills That Make Good Leaders Great

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Whether you're the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or a teenage entrepreneur just starting out, communication skills are vitally important. Great leaders motivate, encourage and inspire. They also train people, share new ideas and negotiate. These activities have one thing in common: They all require excellent communication. Here are five [...]

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This article focuses on ways leadership helps creates success in schools

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Leadership Drives Innovations: A Critical Element in Creating a Successful School

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The importance of leadership in implementing innovations in schools.