Effective Leaders Communicate Authentically

Did you ever have a boss who overly recited corny slogans? Perhaps outdated clichés? If so, you experienced plenty of awkward moments. It’s a well-known fact, this type of communication makes leaders sound foolish. That’s why authentic communication is one of the most essential skills an executive should improve.

Fortunately for us, there are times when we can learn what NOT to do from someone else’s disaster. A few years ago, I had the unfortunate experience of sitting through a thought leader’s presentation. His whole speech was one cliché after another.

He began by saying, “Let me tell you all something fundamental. It starts with why.” As he continued, I realized he was copying an influential, popular author. The excitement of the crowd quickly turned into embarrassment.

Line after line, the hits just kept coming. The barrage of catchphrases was slowly transforming the room into a chamber of mortification. By the time he had finished his introduction, the speaker had lost all credibility.

If he can make a room full of professional’s skin crawl, so can you. Let’s avoid that from happening by learning from his mistakes. His catastrophic errors were: failing to research his audience, not presenting authentic content, and overusing cliches.

As a leader, you do not have the luxury of making these types of blunders.

If you want to communicate more authentically and lead more effectively, do the exact opposite of the speaker mentioned above: research your audience, present authentic content, and avoid overusing clichés.

Research your audience.

The first major mistake that the speaker made was walking into the arena without knowing anything about his audience. There is nothing more condescending than speaking to a group of subject matter experts as if they were elementary school children.

The group in the scenario consisted of well-read academics who spend their time studying the books he was reciting. It was as if he cut and pasted a bunch of leadership quotes and hoped no one would notice that it wasn’t his material. People saw right through him, and the insincere dialogue created a barrier. A little preparation could have prevented this mishap from occurring.

When you research your audience, you set yourself up for success by building a communication bridge. To create this bridge, consider the audiences’ education level, cultural background, maturity, and attitude toward the subject. These are the bricks you can use to customize your content and meet their personal needs. People open up to your message because you speak in a manner in which they identify. Ultimately, customization prevents barriers and keeps your people engaged in what you are saying.

Present authentic content. 

If your motive changes from communicating your vision to appeasing the crowd, you have fallen off track. Many orators alter their message due to fear of losing popularity; some leaders rely on clichés to keep the masses entertained. This ploy will only work to detract from your points.

The problem with most canned slogans is they are not your original work. Someone else coined them, and like the before-mentioned speaker failed to realize, people can easily spot it. In reality, when you use played-out catchphrases, you become an echo chamber parroting another thought leader’s voice, and your opinion is absent. That’s why, as a leader, it’s essential to have your voice shine throughout your presentations.

As an executive, your guidance is a priority for your employees to hear and understand. If you do not communicate clearly and concisely, people will not comprehend what is said. It is not your responsibility to entertain your employees. It is your responsibility to lead them.  

Thus, when tempted to fire a punchline across the room, you should refrain. Instead, deliver a well-thought-out response and lead your people with the authenticity they deserve.

Avoid overusing clichés.

Every once in a while, some brilliant ideas deserve revisiting. Most people are not opposed to speakers using a power phrase or buzzword in dialogue to add to the effect. There are times when this tactic works. However, most people are opposed to the mindless recitation of punchlines or insincere slogans. Your people deserve better. They deserve the best of you.

What’s more, clichés become a natural form of communication after using them too often. They creep their way into your lexicon, and at every meeting, you break out the most reliable with predictability and thoughtlessness.

It’s ok; we all have blind spots. One tip to improve your communication is to poll your most trusted agents to list the most annoying phrases you use. I recommend transferring that list to your smartphone and glancing at it periodically to assist you in deliberately erasing those sayings for good. After all, it’s up to you to set the example for the people you lead.

I leave you with this final thought. When you drop the cliches and lead with authentic communication, you maximize your leadership potential while avoiding sounding foolish.

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