The Executive Edge - Part 2 (Communication)

This blog is part of an ongoing Executive Edge series. Read the first on comprehensive reading here. 

Published by CPA Canada in CareerVision 

Communication is one of those things that we all have to do in life, every single day.  What can differentiate successful executives from those who don’t make it to the top is the manner in which they approach the issue of communication.  Simply put, communication is a serious thing; it’s the difference between being understood and not being understood.  Skilled executives take it one step further, viewing communication as a tool to be completely understood.  That’s powerful stuff.

It’s no secret that failing to communicate well could result in everything from poor decisions to catastrophic misunderstandings, regardless of any good intentions along the way.  Despite this reality, too many people in the business world fail to communicate well (or even at all, in some cases), especially in a world of text messages and other informal interactions.  What’s more, many people just don’t realize how much poor communication not only increases risk, but also limits their potential to advance to more senior roles. 

Experienced executives know that there are a number of skills that are crucial to achieve success in their role; everything from comprehensive reading to being consistently reliable, and having a great ability to communicate is no different.  Taking the initiative to understand and adopt these important skills can give you the Executive Edge; one that differentiates you from others in your peer group and generates better results today, while helping to prepare you for climbing the ladder tomorrow.  In this series, we have already considered the importance of comprehensive reading.  Here’s more about why good communication skills are so critical to success. 

Where it Goes Wrong

Have you ever tried to advance an initiative or workplace project with a group of co-workers that just doesn’t seem to be moving forward?  Staff members seem confused about what their responsibilities are.  Duplication of effort occurs, due to a lack of clarity over who is supposed to do what (and, after a while, no one seems to care).  Numerous meetings are held, but at the end of an hour or two, no one is quite sure what the next steps are.  Nothing seems to get done, and enthusiasm starts to fade.  Why does this happen? 

Although this type of situation can arise due to a number of factors, one of the main problems is always communication.  This includes everything from having clear meeting agendas and discussion topics, to how the discussion process is managed, to meaningful documentation of decisions and next steps.  No wonder success can be so difficult to achieve. 

But, consider this: every day, thousands of hours of staff and management time are wasted by working on initiatives that lack the clarity and communication to move forward.  As disturbing as this is, it’s also an opportunity for you to take a leadership role and cast some much needed light on the situation. 

Get the Executive Edge

Put yourself on the executive path by taking a vow to always strive to be understood and invest in the necessary professional development, attention to detail, and practice to do so.  Once you do, not only will you develop important executive skills, you will also make a meaningful contribution to improve how your work environment functions (and, yes, results do matter).  Here’s how to get started:

  • Keep it simple. Anyone can make something sound complicated; the real talent is in taking something that is complicated and making it understandable to others.  Any situation can be crystallized to a simple concept that others can easily absorb; you just have to find it.
  • Strive to be “crystal clear”. If you consciously focus on delivering your message in a manner that is as clear and understandable as possible, chances are, it will be sufficiently clear to others.  Sounds simple, but it works.
  • More isn’t always better. Rambling on and burying the point in volumes of peripheral information doesn’t enhance communication.  Use words carefully and weed out any unnecessary language that clutters the message.
  • Clean up writing skills. Be honest with yourself: many people would benefit from taking a business writing, grammar, or presentation course to improve their communication ability. Another option is to spend more time working with people who write well and volunteering to complete tasks that have a significant communication component (practice works!).
  • Document discussions, decisions, and next steps. Nobody enjoys taking meeting minutes, developing agendas, or updating project workplans; however, these are important components of the executive world and you need to be able to do these things well in order to move forward. So, raise your hand next time these types of tasks are up for grabs.
  • Keep it moving. Executives are always thinking about the next steps or “so what?” aspect of everything they do. Keep communication meaningful by making it practical and action oriented. 

Keep it up and something strange might start to happen; some of your peer group may actually start to improve their communication skills as well.  Don’t believe it?  Well, you might just be surprised by what good communication can do.

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This article is reproduced with the permission of Jenifer Bartman, CPA, CA, CMC, Founder & Principal of Jenifer Bartman Business Advisory Services.  A former executive in the venture capital industry, with a background in management consulting and accounting, she now advises companies in transition, including early stage, financing, growth, and succession.  You can contact her at: jeniferbartman.com