Importance of Developing Effective Communication Skills for

Leaders
Dennis M. Reilly
Presentation to:
Sparton Corporation
August 5, 2016
 Introduction
A quick background on Dennis Reilly:
Education
Regent University, VA Doctoral Candidate in Strategic Leadership
Colorado State University, CO Masters-International Management Specialization in Leadership
Charter Oak State College, CT BS General Studies; Minor in Management & Technology
Lessons through Life Experiences

Experience: Organizations
International Business: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), French & British Ministy
(14 years living/working in Europe) of Defense, Jenoptik AG, Instro Precision Limited

US Fortune 500: General Dynamics, Abacus Technology,

Moog Inc.

Experience: Positions
Executive Experience Former C-suite corporate executive, Board Member, President, Senior
Vice President & Vice President

Personal
Married 6 children/21 grandchildren
Reading: Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders; John Baldoni. McGraw-Hill
Coach/Mentor/Public Speaker
Board of Directors Fellowship of Christian Athletes, South Florida
 Objectives

Define Effective Communications

Examine Issues Associated with Bad Communications

Why Leaders Need to Become Effective Communicators

How to Begin Communicating Better

Activity #1
See backup slides
Defining: Effective Communications
 Defining Effective Communications

Effective communication is what happens when both leaders

and followers work to understand each other in multiple ways
and using multiple formats.

Examples:
Its when we make our quarterly sales plan.
I must be communicating accurately because people agree
 Defining Effective Communications

Formal Definition: Effective communications is the

primary means where leaders achieve the desired
levels of excellence within their organization
 Defining Effective Communications

Leaders need to effectively listen

Be comfortable asking questions
Admits they do not have all the answers
Ask for help from your associates and customers soliciting
what they need, want and aspire to become
Make the changes that let people know you heard what
they were saying

For leaders, listening to others may be the most important

action of all (Baldoni, 2003, p. 167)
Examining Bad Communication Issues
Examining Bad Communication Issues

https://youtu.be/3FfaPhCKZew
 Examining Bad Communication
Issues
Glenn Llopis, founder of the "The Innovation Mentality, suggest that
there are 5 reasons why leaders practice poor communication skills:

1. Feel Vulnerable - When leaders are vulnerable, they say the

minimal amount and play it safe, rather than fully engaging in a
conversation they cant control.
2. Intimidate Others - By intimidate others, the leader becomes an
inconsistent communicator, making it difficult for others to rely upon
their leadership and take action.
3. Lack Subject Matter Expertise - Leaders who lack confidence are
poor communicators. They may have a tendency to overcompensate
by being loud and obnoxious. When leaders lack subject matter
expertise, they fail to develop the wisdom to communicate
effectively.
4. No Preparedness - When leaders lack preparation, it leads to the
practice of poor communication and their inability to lead by
example then spreads and negatively impacts others.
5. Void of Executive Presence - When leaders lack executive
presence, and the aforementioned four points, it weakens their
authoritative stance; it begins to limit what colleagues expect from
Why Leaders Need to Become Effective
Communicators
 Why Leaders Need to Become Effective
Communicators
w to become an effective communicator:

ncorporate the views of others

resent information in an organized and logical manner
onsider the recipient of the information and method presented
Work to become efficient in both oral and written communications
ncourage questions and entertain discussions with others
ommunicate bad news and good news timely and effectively
ecome comfortable communicating effectively even if you have to prac

Lack of communication skills is among the top

reasons for executive derailment.
 Why Leaders Need to Become Effective
Communicators

We need YOU to be an effective communica

Why?
Because effective
communication is required
throughout the organization and
for various reasons:
For manager-employee
relations
For motivation and employee
morale
For increased productivity
How to Begin Communicating Better
How to Begin Communicating Better
How to Begin Communicating Better
 Objectives Take-Aways

Define Effective Communications

Examine Issues Associated with Bad Communications

Why Leaders Need to Become Effective Communicators

How to Begin Communicating Better

Questions, Concerns, Feedback?

Thank You!
 Bibliography

Baldoni, John. Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Darling, John R., and Steven A. Beebe. "Effective Entrepreneurial Communication in Organization Development:
Achieving Excellence Based on Leadership Strategies and Values." Organization Development Journal 25, no. 1
(Spring 2007): 76-93. http://0-search.proquest.com.library.regent.edu/docview/198008754?accountid=13479.

Garber, Peter R. "50 Communications Activities, Icebreakers, and Exercises." In Amherst: HRD Press, Inc., 2008.

Llopis, Glenn. "5 Reasons Leaders Practice Poor Communication Skills." Forbes, n.d.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2015/09/08/5-reasons-leaders-practice-poor-communication-
skills/2/#1cfe17466af9.

Pinterest. "Communication | Effective Communication Skills in Nursing Leadership | Communication Skills for
Educators and Leaders | Communication, Communicatio." Pinterest. Last modified August 4, 2016.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/330803535104001298/.

Robins, T. "Are you sending the wrong signals? 10 body language mistakes you cant afford to make." n.d.
https://www.tonyrobbins.com/mind-meaning/are-you-sending-the-wrong-signals/.

Tyler, J. L. "Core competencies: A simplified look at a complicated issue." Healthcare Financial Management 57, no. 5
(n.d.): 90-2, 94. http://0-search.proquest.com.library.regent.edu/docview/196365840?accountid=13479.

Van Vliet, Vincent. "7 Cs of Business Communication - ToolsHero." Management Knowledge, Theories, Methods and
More. Last modified August 2, 2016. http://www.toolshero.com/communication-management/7cs-of-business-
communication/.
Backup Slides
Activity #1

Reproduced from 50 Communications Activities,

Icebreakers, and Exercises, by Peter R. Garber.
Amherst, MA, HRD Press, 2008.
 Activity #1

Reading Test

Description: Participants are asked to read a statement

presented inside a triangle. The result is typically that the person
reading the statement
doesnt notice a repeated written word.

Time Guideline: 10 minutes

Purpose: To demonstrate and highlight how easily we often

ignore information that is clearly right in front of us.
 Activity #1 - continued
Presentation:

1. Introduce the activity as a reading test.

2. Quickly distribute the Handout and ask a participant to read the

words inside the triangle (the same as shown below):

3. It is likely that the person will read this statement as A walk in the
park, ignoring the repeated word the.
 Activity #1 - continued

Presentation:

4. Tell the participant that he/she has read the statement incorrectly
and ask him/her to read it again.

5. Ask the group why they think this happened.

6. Explain that the most likely reason is that we often ignore

unnecessary information that we dont really need.

7. This is all part of the way we learn to communicate. We often dont

pay attention to what we believe is not important or necessary
information.
 Activity #1 - continued

Debrief: Ask the group what problems this phenomenon causes in

our communications. Ask if participants believe that we sometimes
ignore information that really is important and critical. Explain that
being more aware of how we ignore or filter out certain bits of
information as demonstrated in this activity can help us avoid doing
this during critical communications in the future.

Difficulty Rating:
Low to medium

Variations: Display Handout briefly and then take it away and have
each participant write down what they think they saw. Ask different
participants what they wrote down until someone has it written down
properly. Reshow the handout to verify that they did indeed miss the
repeated word.
Activity #2

Reproduced from 50 Communications Activities,

Icebreakers, and Exercises, by Peter R. Garber.
Amherst, MA, HRD Press, 2008.
 Activity #2
Repeat the Question

Description: The facilitator reads a series of questions to participants and asks that
they repeat their answers three times in union. This causes participants to typically
answer the last question incorrectly due to the pattern and cadence of the answers
that have been established.

Time Guideline: 10 minutes

Purpose: To illustrate how our expectations concerning communications can

sometimes cause us to say the wrong things

Resources: None
 Activity #2 - continued
1. Ask participants to repeat each answer to the questions you are
about to ask them together
in unison three times. The questions are:
You carry your lunch in a ___ ___ ___
You tie things down with a ___ ___ ___
When youre thirsty, you drink a ___ ___ ___
The white of the egg is called the ___ ___ ___

2. Give them the answer to the first question. Explain that it is a

poke. A poke is a term sometimes used to describe a sack or bag.

3. For instance, the group should answer the first question like this:
poke, poke, poke

4. After participants have answered this question in unison three

times and have the cadence down, ask the second question: You tie
things down with a _____.

5. Participants should answer: rope, rope, rope

 Activity #2 - continued

6. Ask the next question: When youre thirsty,

you drink a _____.

7. Participants should answer: Coke, Coke, Coke

8. Finally, ask the last question: The white of the egg is called the
_____.

9. Expect to hear the group answer: yoke, yoke, yoke

10. Point out to the group that they actually answered this last
question incorrectly.
Explain to the group that the white of the egg is not called the yoke
that is the yellow
part of the egg. The white of the egg is actually called the albumen.
 Activity #2 - continued

Debrief: After completing the Repeating Questions exercise explain

that people answer yoke to the last question because it rhymes
with the other answers and seems to fit in the pattern. The point is
that we need to be careful that we dont
always fall into this trap when communicating with others.
Sometimes we think something is correct because it seems to fit a
pattern.

Difficulty Rating:
Low to medium

Variations: Tell participants before you begin the exercise that you
are going to try to trick them into saying something that is incorrect
and to be careful not to be fooled by you!