Effective Communication Strategies

Communication Strategies and Barriers in Effective Leadership

Effective communication is paramount in any leadership role, therefore, learning how to develop effective strategies while being mindful of barriers is an absolute must for any leader to be successful. One must be prepared to communicate with all cultures and generations in any given situation. I happen to work in Monterey, California; an international tourist hub. We have a diverse mix of cultures and a wide range of ages in our community. Monterey is beautiful and a haven for the young and old, alike. It is also a place that people from all over the world want to experience. Monterey houses the Defense Language Institute as well as the International School of Languages. A combination

Unfortunately, all too often, leaders allow their personal agenda to clout their judgement. (Bacon, 2000) Leaders that do ont listen to their followers are doing themselves a disservice. Instead of focusing on the messenger, we must focus on the message. For example, there have been times in the past that I did not care for a particular employee for various reasons. Because of this, I did not care much for what they said or what they wanted ot eventheir ideas simply because I did not like them. I have since developed the ability to work with people that I do not care for personally. As leaders, we need to leave our emotions at the door so we can be non biased and make the right decisions for the business while maintaining impartially. Breaking down barriers is an invaluable skill that once learned, should be even shared with those around us. One should always make an effort to look at the other persons perspective and to ask questions until satisfied. Only then, can you make sure you have all of the facts needed to come to your own final conclusion. (Bacon, 2000) Other barriers include lacking confidence, not responsding timely, polarizing the situation and jumping to a conclusion,

Effective communication involves perfecting ones verbal, non-verbal and visual communication skills and knowing when to apply each skill depending on the situation. Forunately, when you live in a truly diverse melting pot, many of these skills are bred in to you at an early age and become a truly second nature. For those people who are not privy to the melting pot community, it will take more mindfullness and inititive to develop these communication skills but it is possible to do so through seminars and books until you can apply it to the real