Since the beginning of time, people have been intrigued by leaders. They have a way of making the crowd follow them. They carry themselves in a way that draws people to them. From religious leaders to political leaders, these individuals are constantly studied to know what makes them tick. I have met with several of these leaders, I have also met budding leaders and struggling ones who wonder why they have no followers. Truth is leaders think, speak and act differently. I want to focus on how leaders speak here.
- Focus: Leaders focus on the bigger picture. They are able to push aside their personal agenda for the greater good. You can tell a person who is focused on the organization based on how they speak. I have seen several young, budding leaders complain about not having followers but are unaware that the solution lies in the saying that ‘people don’t care how much you know, till they know how much you care. Some of these aspiring leaders are self-absorbed, all they do is talk about themselves. If you want to be a leader, speak more about the vision of the organization and tie it to how it affects prospective followers. When people know what is in it for them, they are more likely to follow you.
- Opinionated: Leaders tend to be highly knowledgeable and very educated. They usually rise to the top because of their knowledge, however they know they should not share their opinion about every single issue. Leaders stay away from controversial issues except their job demands it. The reason for this is simple, controversial topics tend to alienate followers. Before you speak, be sure it aligns with your beliefs. Leaders cannot afford to be flippant. You probably remember General McChrystal getting fired when he shared a different position from that of the Government on a war he was leading. That explains why most leaders only take positions which align with their values.
- Passion: Great leaders speak with conviction. They understand the importance of using the right words which adequately convey their meaning. Interpretation is very important for followers. As a leader, your job is to make the ambiguous simple. Recently read a commentary on former President Jimmy Carter, it was quite eye opening. He is regarded as one of the most informed Presidents to ever lead America however associates claim his biggest problem was inability to communicate his ideas. This has been given as one of the reasons, he was a one term President as he was not able to get majority of the people to buy into his policies
- Encourage: Great leaders are a source of encouragement to others around them. They tend to see the best in others. This is one of the reasons people flock to them. Leaders are optimists. They tend to see the glass half full.
- Stay in Touch: Leaders speak from a place of empathy. They put themselves in the shoes of their followers. They realize that there are several perspectives to every issue. Even if they have never experienced the issue at hand, they always seek to understand what others are gong through.
- Consistency: To be a great leader, your word must be your bond. It is therefore important that leaders weigh their words. Everyone hates people who flip-flop. Politicians have lost elections because they are perceived as inconsistent for constantly changing their position. Leaders understand that data can change so when presented with new information, they change their stand. However leaders stay true to their values and you hear it each time they speak. Another reason leaders are consistent when they speak is because, they study the facts and spend time pondering things before they open their mouth to speak.
Victor Sanya