5 Communication Skills From Top Leaders

Do you struggle with communicating effectively? Communication is a vital part of success at work or in other parts of your life. Top leaders have practiced and mastered the skills that enable them to communicate so well. Luckily, you can also learn these same skills!

Follow these strategies to practice essential communication skills:

  1. 1
    Learn to listen. Top leaders know that listening is a crucial part of communication. Learn to love listening and engage in the stories of others.
  • Try to pay attention during a conversation instead of being distracted by your phone or other devices. Have one conversation at a time to give each person your full attention. 
  • Try to retelling the other person's story in your mind. This practice will give you a better understanding and increase your listening skills.
  • Everyone wants to be heard. Others will notice that you're listening to them and will go away from your conversations, thinking what a great communicator you are because you listened.
  • If appropriate, repeat back to the person your listening to what you thought they said—you're looking to see if you understand the argument.
  • Ask for clarification of what was said. Everyone indeed wants to be heard, but they also want to be understood.
  1. 2
    Avoid slang. It's normal to use slang or other types of informal language while talking to friends or family. However, the business meeting usually requires a more formal language set. Pay attention to whom you're talking to and make the necessary adjustments.
  • Slang, acronyms, and profanity can also make some people feel uncomfortable, especially if they're not familiar with them.
  • Keep profanity out of the business meeting. You never know who will be offended.
  1. 3
    Focus on being brief. Top leaders know that you don't have to make a long speech to be effective.
  • Practice being brief and getting your point across with fewer words and less time. People appreciate short conversations and respect others who don't go off on tangents.
  • However, ensure you're still providing enough information while you talk. You don't want to be vague or miss important details.
  • However, ensure you're still providing enough information while you talk. You don't want to be vague or miss important details.
  1. 4
    Pay attention to other's emotions. When you talk, take note of how the other person is reacting. Words are powerful, and communication can affect people in many different ways.
  • You may want to learn psychology to understand emotions better.
  • Show sympathy and empathy when it's appropriate during a conversation.
  • Look at things from the other person's point of view without criticism or judgment.
  1. 5
    Be charismatic. Communication is more natural for charismatic people, but you can learn this skill.
  • One of the most critical aspects of charisma is confidence, but not arrogance or self-righteousness. Confident communicators know their value and worth, but they're also respectful of others.
  • Another facet of charisma is optimism, and it's also a big part of communication. Even if you're having a difficult conversation, focus on something positive. Top leaders are good at finding the silver lining.
  • Charismatic communicators are interesting, but they also share interesting information with others. They focus on innovation and new ideas that give people a spark.

If communications are a skill you need as a leader, I'd like to suggest joining Toastmasters. Toastmasters is an international group dedicated to creating better speakers. You get to have multiple chances to speak at each meeting, and it provides a safe environment to try out new skills and approaches. If you choose the right group, it will be close to the situation you need to speak on a daily bases.

You can learn to communicate more effectively by following these tips from top leaders. Practice these skills as often as possible. You'll have many opportunities each day. Every time you have a conversation with anyone is an opportunity to practice a little more. And as you know, practice makes improvement!

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