Lack of Communication Means Lack of Leadership

Effective leadership depends on effective communication.

Unfortunately, effective leadership is sadly lacking in all levels of our society.

A miserable, but typical, lack of leadership jumped out at me at a recent High School junior varsity football game.

And as usual, this lack of leadership involved the Number One sin of “pretend leaders” - lack of communication.

This story involved a freshman blocking back in his third JV game.

Through most of the first half, he performed his job effectively blocking for the running backs. One of those blocks actually led to his team’s only touchdown.

Near the end of the first half, as can be predicted, the “coach” called a play where the blocking back would carry the ball.

On the play, he was stripped of the ball as he was being tackled.

The opposing player who stripped the ball ran 30 yards, untouched, for a touchdown. This touchdown put them ahead by 16 points.

Remember I mentioned the running back’s team only scored one touchdown on his block.

Can you imagine the embarrassment of having an opposing player take the ball away from you and return it for a touchdown!

What would you do as that running back’s coach?

I hope you would not do what most “pretend leaders” do. Nothing.

What was more shocking about this total lack of leadership was that both coaches, the head coach and assistant coach, let this totally embarrassed player walk off the field without saying one word to him. Zero Communication.

Let’s examine the word – coach.

This was a teachable moment.

A real coach would have called the player over to console, encourage, and instruct him.

A real coach would have reminded the player that even Pro Bowl players fumble the ball once in a while.

A real coach would have shown his confidence in the player, in front of the other players. He must have had confidence in the player if he had played him at that position in the two previous games.

What’s really interesting in this sad tale of miserable leadership is that the blocking back, the night before, had run the ball once in the varsity game and gained eight yards.

I am not being fair to this “coach.”

He did communicate with player. This brilliant coach did not play him at running back the rest of the game. And, he limited his play on defense to two plays on special teams. He very effectively communicated his displeasure to the player.

A real coach would have put the player back in the game immediately and call a play allowing the running back to carry the ball again. I guarantee he would not fumble the ball this time.

Even if you know nothing about football, you know and understand the traits of a leader.

These traits include communication, vision, and risk-taking.

OBJECT LESSON

We suffer from a miserable lack of leadership here in the USA. Why?

Let’s extend this story about this football player out 20 years. He is now 34 years old and has received a promotion to manage a department or division.

When he gets into a situation where an employee makes a mistake, what management approach do you think he will take?

Will he take the employee aside to explain, expand by example, and encourage.
Or will he embarrass the employee in front of his co-workers?

The basic problem with our lack of leadership in America is that we lack role models.

Look at the corporate world. Look at our political “leaders.” Look at some of the doings of religious leaders.

We see models of greed, awful decision making, lying to the public, immorality, and total lack of regard for the jobs they were elected to perform.

Where does all this start?

Think about the first influences kids see – parents, family, teachers and administrators, religious leaders, police, celebrities, politicians, video games, music.

What are you doing if you are one of those influences listed above to help inspire, train, and encourage our future leaders?

Are you too wrapped up in your own world of daily pressures to think about how your behavior molds the character of the people around you?

Are you a youth “coach” trying to recapture your youth through the kids you’re supposed to be coaching? Did you forget that you made those same mistakes your kids are now making? Coach them. They are learning more than just the game you're playing. They are learning the game of life.

Has your desire for power and money blinded you to the needs of others?

Are your egotistical insecurities preventing you from thinking about how your employees might produce better if they experienced leadership rather than tyranny?

Leaders communicate. Pretenders destroy.

FIVE RULES FOR USING VOICE MAIL CORRECTLY

Quickly! Name three things that drive you nuts about Voice Mail.

Let's see how close you came to my three.

1. People who ramble on and seldom get to the point

2. People who don't leave a message

3. People who mumble their telephone numbers so that I have to
play the message five times to get the number

I'm sure your list included little irritations such as:

1. People who do not leave their number

2. People who assume you know who is calling and don't identify
themselves

3. People who are not sure or clear why they called

But the message here is clear.

A lot of people are missing a great opportunity when they use
Voice Mail.

To ensure you never fall into one of the categories above, please
consider Five Rules for Using Voice Mail Correctly.

1. Approach Voice Mail with a positive attitude.

The chances are extremely high that when you call someone, you
will hear that person's Voice Mail message. Consider these
circumstances a great opportunity.

If you are making a business-to-business call, you should welcome
Voice Mail. This is your invitation to present a 30 second
commercial for yourself.

This is your chance to exhibit the true professionalism that
creates rapport, builds trust, and forms relationships. It is
your chance to show the person at the other end of the line that
you value and care about her or him.

When you commit one of the six sins mentioned above, you destroy
all sense of professionalism.

2. Expect to leave a message.

If you approach Voice Mail with a positive attitude, you will
save time. You will save yourself time and you will save time for
the person on the other end.

Let me explain. Before picking up the phone, prepare yourself for
the possibility of leaving a Voice Mail message by thinking
through or scripting out what you plan to say.

For example, if you are calling someone to ask them a question,
ask the question. Doing so can prevent a long game of telephone
tag because it allows the person at the other end to think
through or research the answer and then call you back.

That person may have to leave the answer on your Voice Mail, but
at least you now have an answer. That scenario is much better
than playing an endless game of telephone tag.

3. Do a Core Dump.

A Core Dump is a three step process I teach Business Writing
participants in my workshops that helps them organize their
thoughts before writing. It works equally well before picking up
the phone.

The three steps are:

a. On paper, dump all the thoughts you have running around in
your head about the reason you are about to call someone. You need to do this
to help you focus on your message.

You spend a lot of time multi-processing during the day. The Core
Dump will help you cut through everything going on in your
business and personal life to concentrate on what you need to say
to the person you are calling.

b. From everything you've dumped on that paper, select no more
than three things you need to tell or ask that person.

c. Rank those three things in the order in which you wish to
express them for maximum impact.

Now, you are ready to make the call. Now, you are ready to leave
a clear, concise, complete and conversational message.

4. Slow down; speak clearly; show respect.

You show respect for that person and that person's time by
clearly and slowly stating your name at least twice and repeating
your call back number at least twice. Remember, slowly and
clearly, twice.

5. Remember those two magical words.

I am embarrassed that I even have to remind you about this. But,
so many people neglect to say these words nowadays, I must end
this article with them.

Thank you.