A Culture for Communication

from Able Leader, July 2002

by Steve Kaye

Leaders create, manage, and refine an environment that facilitates success for their organization. This is important because an organization’s culture determines everything that happens, including how people communicate, how they behave, how they make decisions.

As a leader, this is one of your primary responsibilities.

And your greatest influence upon the culture in your organization may come from simple things such as how you communicate.

For example, Do you create a safe environment that makes it easy for people to tell you things that you need to know?

A hostile environment creates caution, sets up barriers, and prevents a free, open flow of communication.

Effective leaders create a safe environment by using a positive, forward thinking vocabulary. They project a tone and manner that encourages people to relax. They radiate confidence, courage, and strength.

Do you welcome questions? Do you encourage questions? Do you invite questions that you have heard (or answered) before?

Realize that people test you by asking questions. They test your sincerity, your compassion, and your ethics. They test whether you can be trusted. Your reaction to questions, even hostile questions, tells more than your words.

Do you communicate with respect, courtesy, and dignity?

People will treat you the way you treat them. And they pay special attention to how you treat those who make mistakes or disagree with you.

Take a moment to evaluate if your communication skills are taking your organization where you want it to go.

Key Point: Communication is the key to successful business.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300