The power of effective , transparent communication

What was one of the key success factors for making Alexander the Great - great? 

We have just spent the day in Thessaloniki (2nd biggest city in Greece )- visiting a tomb of his family! 

Communication - in my view was key!!

Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" shares the importance of effective good communication . 

He emphasises the need of being given explicit instructions -  and following them. 

If orders are unclear, it is the leaders  problem and the soldiers  are at blame if they are given explicit instructions and still fail to carry them out. 

This  concept has s not only relevant on the battlefield - but also on the sports field, government , at school , at home and especially   in business 

Leaders need to make sure their teams are on the same page by communicating their vision, mission, strategies , goals , tasks and expectations.

Effective Feedback

When goals aren't accomplished, leaders need  to see if their instructions were understood and that the team understands the game plan and their role clearly! The use of feedback mechanisms to learn what worked or didn’t - 

Where was the breakdown? Was it because of ambiguous instructions or lack of execution?

Reviewing past games analysis can reveal what was good or bad - what worked or didn’t— what could be improved - was failure as a result of strategy muddled tactics or execution  or both? 

Effective open communication  promotes an atmosphere of trust a key quality and value vital to the success of any group! 

Allen Pathmarajah shares one of the most important tools in communication - which is the

L in leadership!

Listen - listen and silent - have the same letters, he says !

Once you know what works -  Practice , practice practice is essential  until processes  become second nature, leaving little room for error! (Read Malcolm Gladwell the tipping point and blink ) 

Identify what can be improved - pivot , iterate , practice until perfect 

Ways to communicate 

Through regular forums town halls , team meetings, one-on-one chats, digital channels.

Continuity is key!!

Whether you are at home , in business, government or the battlefield - Conflicts can be greatly reduced if clear standards for tasks, responsibilities, and behaviour are established with clear ways to communicate them ! 

When people don't play by the rules, or don’t follow the game plan - having an open conversation about what went wrong can help bring everyone closer together and improve future compliance.

The power  of effective , transparent communication is key 

 

Of course - Learning and effective training is a key part of the communication process - (www.bsilearning.com.au)

Leaders in any field can benefit from internalising and using Sun Tzu's concepts through building stronger, more cohesive, and more accountable teams.