Talk Like a Leader

One way to improve your communication effectiveness is to be aware of and sensitive to the things you do that hurt it. We call those areas of interaction "blind spots". In this episode, I'll share two ways of identifying your blind spots so that you can take action to stay out of them and to minimize their impact.

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• Communication Blindspots Intensified by Remote Work

A common concern expressed in our Bud to Boss workshops is getting the other person to speak in coaching conversations, project planning meetings, and conflict resolution situations. Basically, any situation where emotions might be running a bit high and the other person might be hesitant to share their perspective. In this episode, I'll share three question foundations you can use in these difficult situations.

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• Coaching Isn't Telling: A Lesson Learned the Hard Way
• The Coaching Mindset with Carl Smith
• The Do's and Don'ts of Coaching Conversations

It's easy to see other people's blind spots. It's also easy to ignore our own. Focusing on other people's blind spots while ignoring our own seriously limits our ability to communicate. In this weeks episode, I'll share some thoughts on how to overcome this communication challenge.

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• Control What You Can

It's tempting to look for the right words and to think in terms of phraseology as the key to effective communication. Remember that communication is about more than just the words you say. The write words with the wrong tone or body language can destroy your communication effectiveness. Likewise, poor timing or the wrong environment can also derail your efforts.

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• Control What You Can
• Defer With an Explanation

I often here front line leaders express frustration and exasperation with what they cannot do in their role. This focus on what they cannot do often leads to doing nothing. In this episode, I offer thoughts on a different perspective – focusing on what you CAN do.

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• Control What You Can
• How Suggesting Ways for People to Improve Can Backfire on You
• Emotions Are the Barrier to Change

Leadership communication is certainly about how you communicate directly with your team, and it is more than that. It also includes what you do to facilitate communication within your team and between team members. This week, I'm taking a look at how to do that better.

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• Building Relationships in a Remote World
• Maximizing Your Communication Power
• If You Do Only This One Thing, Your Communication Will Improve

Recently, a friend of mine told me about a situation where he made a "sideways" comment during a management meeting, and it bit him. In this week's episode, I've got some thoughts to share with you about what sideways comments are and how they can hurt your leadership communication.

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• You Can Never Be Too Clear
• Five Communication Strategies to Stop Using and What to Do Instead
• If You Do Only This One Thing, Your Communication Will Improve

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This week's episode is based on something I experienced while leading a workshop last week. I had an interchange with a class participant that reminded me of a powerful lesson in leadership communication.

• Take our free DISC Assessment.
• Download our free report, The First 7 Things to Do When You Get Promoted.
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• You Can Never Be Too Clear
• Five Communication Strategies to Stop Using and What to Do Instead
• If You Do Only This One Thing, Your Communication Will Improve

Don't miss an episode! Follow this podcast through the options below.

• Apple Podcasts
• Stitcher
• Google Play
• TuneIn
• RSS
• Or your favorite podcast app

Assumptions work dangerously on two directions: the assumptions we make about others and the assumptions they make about us. Both of these types of assumptions can interfere with effective communication. In this episode I'll look at both sides of the assumption challenge and suggest ways you can address each of them more successfully.

• Take our free DISC Assessment.
• Download our free report, The First 7 Things to Do When You Get Promoted.
• Follow us on Facebook.

• You Can Never Be Too Clear
• Five Communication Strategies to Stop Using and What to Do Instead
• If You Do Only This One Thing, Your Communication Will Improve

Don't miss an episode! Follow this podcast through the options below.

• Apple Podcasts
• Stitcher
• Google Play
• TuneIn
• RSS
• Or your favorite podcast app

Once you know your source of communication power, maximizing your power to become a better communicator is the next step. In this episode, I'm continuing and expanding the idea I started in the Know Your Source of Communication Power episode.

• Take our free DISC Assessment.
• Download our free report, The First 7 Things to Do When You Get Promoted.
• Follow us on Facebook.

• Know Your Source of Communication Power
• Five Communication Strategies to Stop Using and What to Do Instead
• If You Do Only This One Thing, Your Communication Will Improve

Don't miss an episode! Follow this podcast through the options below.

• Apple Podcasts
• Stitcher
• Google Play
• TuneIn
• RSS
• Or your favorite podcast app