“What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Those were the infamous words of “The Captain” (prison warden) in the 1967 classic “Cool Hand Luke” starring Paul Newman. It is often repeated by leaders and team members in any organization. Communication is the hub around which all elements of organizational leadership are built. When done well the wheels of the organization turn smoothly and when not, the squeaking sound you hear is the organization steering towards dysfunction. Here are the four key layers that effective leaders always maintain and improve upon.
- From the leader to the team. This may be the most important layer. Failure here ultimately flows out to the other layers hindering forward progress. The words of “the leader” carry more weight than all others, inspires or discourages, serves as a compass, and can make or break an organization. He or she must speak with clarity, conviction, wisdom, hope, and consistency. How are you doing communicating to your team?
- From the team to the leader. Do the team members have access to the leader? How quickly can they have interaction? Are they free to ask or say difficult things without fear of reprisal? Is there time designed where team members can speak to the leader? If not, the wheels or your organization will turn much slower.
- Between team members. Are there standards related to how team members communicate with one another? Is your organization seeking to minimize and eliminate silos between different departments or ministry areas? Is a timely response between members a core value or clear expectation? Are there systematic gatherings that encourage interaction? Are some of the interaction built on fellowship or relationship building to increase trust and enhance peer to peer communication? The answers to these questions can say much about how well the wheels of your organization turn.
- Between the team and the public. The public could be customers, members, or the community at large. The tools, methods, and strategies are quickly evolving in a fast-changing culture. The reputation of your organization depends on this as well as the level of involvement or sales in a for-profit circumstance.
Are you attending to all four layers? How is it going? What is your next step? Answer these questions and you will be much more likely to maximize your leadership!
The four points are adapted from chapter fourteen of John Maxwell’s The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork.