Leaders - Communicate Powerfully!

Unshackle the “Free” Agents of Communication

As a South African, the one problem I have always had with our mentality is the inability to communicate effectively. Powerful leaders need to be powerful communicators first and foremost - someone who can step up to the plate, and involve an audience at their level. We seem to have entered a new age where instead of liberating the oppressed, we need to liberate leaders who are competent and able to talk to a nation. 

Communication Power entails 3 things: 

LISTEN: Powerful communication doesn’t equal a monologue by a powerful figure to the masses. Power lies in dialogue which can only take place when the communicator listens to his audience. It means you have to listen all the time and speak sometimes. 

CLARIFY: Without being able to convey your message with transparency, people will only hear your message without engaging in it. Messages need to be simple and structured for your audience to grasp the meaning and be motivated to respond to it. When you allow people to know the “why” and not only the “what” you connect with them emotionally and motivate with lucidity. 

ENDORSE: This entails pro-actively explaining and Parra-phrasing your message so that all recipients are able to hear, understand and engage with you on a subject matter. This ensures credibility in an audience and the power to influence on worthwhile issues. 

In a nutshell: Listen to what your audience is saying, clarify the message with the information you have heard and endorse the message to encourage action. 

Trevor Manual is an excellent example; he speaks with clarity and is able to endorse his comments with reason and intellect. Yes, he may have been schooled by the ANC for his “free agent” like communication, but he is a powerful communicator. He has stood up and respectfully communicated to his fellow South Africans whatever the motive behind his actions. With the upcoming elections some find it strange that the usually calm Mr. Manual feels it correct to make noise (that could potentially lead to coloured votes for the ANC) when he has had little to say about more pressing issues such as the AIDS denial of his previously much love president. 

Whatever the motive, and I’m sure there is one...Trevor Manual is an excellent communicator! 

Take a look at this article! http://bolekaja.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/trevor-manuel%E2%80%99s-open-letter-to-jimmy-manyi/

Written by: Roxanne Marais