There never was a heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate – Robert South.
A compassionate heart listens, a tender heart understands and a committed heart executes. In the words of Socrates “Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue, to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak”.
So what is Communication? Communication is a process in which an interchange of thoughts and opinions are transmitted by speech, writing or signs.
A leader’s communication skill is the key to the public’s motivation. There are studies conducted that suggest, there is an impact of a leader’s spoken language on the performance of public.
These studies are credible and lead to an insight on a leader’s behavior.
An observant and compassionate leader responds to a situation well in advance then his contemporaries. How he communicates his fear for action to the public is greatly dependent on his communication skills.
A strategic communication between a leader and the public comes with a goal of bridging the distance between a leader’s intent and the public’s understanding to favorably influence positive outcomes.
Communication should not be used merely as a mechanism for leadership control. A leader’s empathy towards the situation should be reflected in the forms of his active listening and his attempts to respond to the public’s experience and questions while sharing his (leader’s) own.
Communication of a leader that minimizes the burden on the public by streamlining the directives to procure a common goal creates satisfaction among the masses. For instance the abolition of slavery in the times of President Lincoln as a leader was a very daunting but popular objective. How to execute it with his committed will and pass the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st 1863 in Congress was Lincoln’s task. It was made possible because Lincoln reflected real empathy; he listened to the people and understood their needs. He was downright genuine and committed to the people and focused towards executing this noble cause.
Ambiguity and lack of knowledge or care towards the objective by a leader creates unnecessary doubts and affects the credibility of a leader among the public. Any goal that the leader wants to achieve for his people need to be clear to the public. All questions answered. No hidden motives. The time frame worked out for achieving goals and expressed clearly to the public.
Urgency in carrying out the desired change by a leader that is communicated well will be accompanied by a sense of moral purpose by the public that will energize the pursuit of the desired common goal by both the leader and the public.
We have always heard the idiom “Walk the Talk”. What a leader says is what he means and what he does. Talk is viewed as cheap when it conflicts with actions.
By the end of the day a leader serves the public. If a leader serves his goals or motives he is considered an oppressor or a dictator. Effective leadership focuses on making a difference. A leader leads his people to solve problems and is accountable to his presented solutions. Thus gaining the confidence of the people by directing them towards the common goal while providing communication at every stage every level.
Ayesha Shafiq
A true leader believes that confidence is only gained when nothing is left in the dark and all is communicated.
Ayesha Shafiq, Director of Paris Cardiology Center. Wife of Khalid Shafiq M.D. and mother of their 2 children. Director of Paris Cardiology Center for 11 years. Masters in International Relations. Runs management with the help of 22 employees.