The other day, two people who do PR for BYU came and talked to us about communications, which was kinda perfect since that is exactly the career that I want to pursue – super cool!
Anyways...
1.) Why is communicating powerfully and prolifically a crucial part of leadership?
I originally had to look up what prolifically meant and that really helped me wrap my head around this idea. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says that prolific means marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity. I think that this means that your message should be strong enough that when communicated it produces some results. This is especially important for leadership because a lot of the time leaders are trying to get people on the same page and then put that into action. Without the prolific aspect, the cause would forever be just an idea and would never produce some real changes.
I also think that being powerful is something that is really hard to be when communicating especially when you fear public speaking (so that is the first obstacle), and also being powerful takes a lot of planning and consolidating your argument so that it is clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous (thanks Ryan!). The 7 C's of Communication really apply to communicating powerfully because people need to understand that it takes a lot of work.
I always wondered what I could have done better when communicating my vision to my old leadership class, and I realized that I hadn't done a lot of the work that needs to take place before you even begin to communicate. It takes time to really define your idea and become a specialist on it. I could have spent way more time connecting the dots, so that my team was able to get the fully formed idea.
Overall, Leadership has so much to do with embracing a vision and then acting on it, which is why communicating that idea powerfully and prolifically is HUGE.
2.) Throughout your life you will serve in various leadership roles everywhere from family roles to work roles to church roles. Everyday you communicate what you believe to those around you through your words and your actions. Todd and Joe expressed how important it is that your messages are rooted in what you believe. In the future, how can you make sure what you communicate is rooted in your beliefs?
I think that I have to always remember who I am and the kind of person that I want to be, and then make sure that all of the things that I do and say support that. I need to constantly remind myself, or else I will probably get stuck in a rut where I am not as confident or enthusiastic as I can be. I can alo write my beliefs down and make a personal vison and mission statement that will guide who I want to be. My dad told me that George Albert Smith had a personal creed by which he conducted his life. It has been called 'Creed of a Saint' because it exemplifies ideal actions of Latter-Day Saints:
- 1. “I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.”
- 2. “I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.”
- 3. “I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind.”
- 4. “I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life.”
- 5. “I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.”
- 6. “I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.”
- 7. “I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends.”
- 8. “I would not knowingly wound the feeling of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend.”
- 9. “I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father.”
- 10. “I would not be an enemy to any living soul.”
- 11. “Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter I feel it not only a duty but a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth.”I want to do something of this sort, but I want to make it really meaningful to me so that is something that I will be working on. I think that it will help me to communicate with people and be sincere. I am also reading a book that will help me communicate and be the enthusiastic, sincere person that I want to be; it is called How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie. The title is deceiving because it sounds manipulative in a way but it is honestly one of the coolest books that I have ever read. It is really helping me to realize the bad things that I do when communicating with people and how to fix them. It is really inspiring! I totally recommend it for sure! Anyways, I think that it is important for me to always be reminded of my beliefs and work on strategies (like those found in Dale Carnegie's book) to help me communicate better.
3.) Todd and Joe gave us some great hints to help leaders communicate powerfully and prolifically. Develop a step-by-step process that you can follow in order to communicate your desired message to those you lead?
First, always remember to smile. Dale Carnegie says, "Actions speak louder than words, and a smile says, "I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you." That is why dogs make such a hit. They are so glad to see us that they almost jump out of their skins. So, naturally, we are glad to see them." Never thought that I would ever get valuable advice telling me to act like a dog, but I totally agree, so act like a dog I will! Carnegie also advises that even if you don't feel like smiling then "first, force yourself to smile. If you are alone, force yourself to whistle or hum a tune or sing. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy." I love his advice because I think that smiles really make a difference and I love his advice about how to keep smiling.
Second, talk in terms of other's interests. Another one of Carnegie's tips, that encourages people to talk to people about thinks that they care about. When I am explaining things, I need to talk about things that are important and relevant to the people that I am trying to persuade instead of just things that I like.
Third, I can ask questions instead of giving direct orders. Carnegie says that good leaders give suggestions not orders. They gather people together, explain the issue, tell them why it is important, and then start asking questions like "Do you think this will work?" or "What do you think of this?". He says,"Asking questions not only makes an order more palatable; it often stimulates the creativity of the persons whom you ask. People are more likely to accept an order if they have had a part in the decision that caused the order to be issued." I think that this is vital because I really don't like feeling like I am being bossy, and this way people are way more involved in the decision making process. I feel like communicating with people instead of at them is way more effective.
First, always remember to smile. Dale Carnegie says, "Actions speak louder than words, and a smile says, "I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you." That is why dogs make such a hit. They are so glad to see us that they almost jump out of their skins. So, naturally, we are glad to see them." Never thought that I would ever get valuable advice telling me to act like a dog, but I totally agree, so act like a dog I will! Carnegie also advises that even if you don't feel like smiling then "first, force yourself to smile. If you are alone, force yourself to whistle or hum a tune or sing. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy." I love his advice because I think that smiles really make a difference and I love his advice about how to keep smiling.
Second, talk in terms of other's interests. Another one of Carnegie's tips, that encourages people to talk to people about thinks that they care about. When I am explaining things, I need to talk about things that are important and relevant to the people that I am trying to persuade instead of just things that I like.
Third, I can ask questions instead of giving direct orders. Carnegie says that good leaders give suggestions not orders. They gather people together, explain the issue, tell them why it is important, and then start asking questions like "Do you think this will work?" or "What do you think of this?". He says,"Asking questions not only makes an order more palatable; it often stimulates the creativity of the persons whom you ask. People are more likely to accept an order if they have had a part in the decision that caused the order to be issued." I think that this is vital because I really don't like feeling like I am being bossy, and this way people are way more involved in the decision making process. I feel like communicating with people instead of at them is way more effective.
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