Communication
Momentum and tempo
· by Human Matters · 2 min read
empathie feedback communicatie vergaderen leiderschap
Leading has something of conducting an orchestra. Directing a group of musicians has a lot in common with keeping a team on track. As a conductor, you had better communicate clearly and listen attentively.
But playing a smooth concert is not so simple. One person goes fast, another slow, yet another prefers to play solo, and not everyone always feels equally keen to contribute. There are players who love the piece and are full of enthusiasm, while others feel lukewarm and are harder to motivate.
How do you do that as a leader? How do you create engagement? How do you ensure people contribute to the organisation’s mission from their passion? And how do you make sure this results in high quality (like that beautiful, lingering concert)?
By staying in touch with what is happening among your team members in an engaged, warm way, you as a leader lay the foundation for clear, purposeful communication. When you listen consciously, a bond forms where, from mutual respect, attention is given to what matters, both at the organisational and the personal level.
The ability to listen empathically means colleagues will, in turn, be more willing to hear what is important from the organisation’s perspective.
When there are false notes, we advise first hearing the different viewpoints before moving to decisions and solutions. This way, you reach lasting agreements that work for everyone involved, because disagreements keep growing as long as the problem is not tackled at the root.
By delivering messages clearly, employees understand how they can contribute to a bigger whole. With reinforcing feedback, you help them align their work with their personal goals and those of the organisation.
And how do you tap into the collective intelligence of a group of experts or other stakeholders when making decisions? By deploying them in a very targeted way. Concrete proposals form the starting point of a meeting. Each participant is then asked to voice their objections. These objections are weighed and become the basis for improved proposals. Because everyone’s difficulties are also heard, without judgement or blame, a sense of shared ownership emerges around the best possible decision. In that interplay, you make sure decisions are made in a timely manner.
No better way to keep the momentum going!