Communication...Becoming An Effective Leader Through Effective Communication
By Kathy J. Siroky, PP, PLS, NALS 2007-8 President

As a NALS member and leader, you are an ambassador to the cause. Even if you are unable to attend meetings or events, you can still champion NALS mission by serving as a crusader, an advocate, spreading the word. Advocating for your profession is an unselfish and rewarding experience. Here are some helpful hints:

Take pride in what you do—in the way you serve each and every member, as well as responding to inquiries regarding NALS. One of the most powerful words people can use about you is this: likeable. Likeability is the single biggest factor in determining your success. Members join, volunteer and will follow your leadership with members they like. The simplest way to boost your likeability is by smiling. Take pride in your leadership, in a job well done. Adopt an attitude that you really like doing what you are doing.

Understandability—in the way you communicate with members and other leaders. Be a good guide. That is, be an effective communicator. Whether oral or written, you must be able to listen and really hear and understand what the other person is saying. First, let people know where you are going to be taking them. In other words, tell them what they can expect to hear. Then, break your information up in manageable chunks. Number the chunks and give them simple one or two word headlines. Finally, use the numbers and the headlines repeatedly, like trail markers. Transmitting one’s ideas, thoughts, and views to others is a challenge we must strive to accomplish and improve upon daily.

Preparation—Conciseness Equals Success. Practice will bring out the best in each of us as we learn to speak and write effectively. The biggest challenge we face today is delivering the information with speed. We must communicate the clarity and conciseness. To be concise you need to be able to deliver your last line first. Ask yourself, “what point am I trying to make?” Then speak that first. All your reasons and supporting data can come later.

The sound of leadership is concise. Get to your bottom line. Say it once. Stop talking.
People will listen.