When you want to be a better leader, you must improve your communication skills. You must put yourself in the shoes of your employees, and you should take pride in being a quality leader. There are tips below you can use to improve your leadership, and you should focus on nonverbal communication to help your staff grow.
Take A Course
A PMP course for professionals teaches you how to manage projects. However, the greater message of the course is business leadership. You are learning how to manage a business that has several divisions, and you are learning how to communicate with your staff. You may need to take this course before taking over a team, or you could take this course before sending your managers.
Learn About Nonverbal Communication
You must learn about nonverbal communication if you want to be a good leader. Nonverbal communication is several times more effective than verbal communication. You should use a mix of verbal and nonverbal communication to reach your staff. Plus, you should use nonverbal communication to display pride, thoughtfulness, and concern.
People on your staff will respond to nonverbal communication well, and they will communicate with you in the same way. There is no need to shout across the office when you can give someone the thumbs up. Plus, you can communicate in meetings using nonverbal cues. You can get an idea of how the staff feels about a particular idea, and you might change course if the room seems to sour when you share an idea.
The same thing is true if you people on your staff are sharing ideas. You can change the subject, or you might want to support someone who is sharing an idea. There is no need to ask someone if they feel bad because you can see it on their face.
You Can Meet With Your Staff And Understand Their Emotions
You are not required to be a therapist or life coach for your staff. However, you can be an understanding soul. You can show your staff that you care about how you feel, and you can listen to them when they need to be heard. You can see when someone is not responding well to criticism, or you can pick out body language that is concerning.
If someone on your staff is aggressive or rude, you can watch their body language. They may hide their rude comments or gestures, but you know that something is not right.
You Can Communicate With Your Superiors More Effectively
Your superiors need as much input as possible when they ask about your progress or projects. You should use nonverbal cues to communicate with your superiors where possible. As you use gestures, you cut back on the number of words you use. Your superiors understand what you have said, and your meetings are not long.
Conclusion
Use these tips when you want to be a better leader. You must learn how to read nonverbal cues, and you should study how other people respond to what you say. You can praise your staff with nonverbal gestures, and you can use nonverbal gestures to cut back on meeting time. Also, you will recognize any problems you have in the office. You can see when people are confused, hurt, or struggling at work.