Nearly a third of managers and executives are regarded as severely lacking in their abilities to manage other people. That’s according to a Business Wire report on a survey of human resource managers from 133 organizations. The survey also reports that about 40% are considered excellent leaders, indicating that the other 60% could use some improvement. Chris Gay of Right Management Consultants notes that communication skills are both the most-desired management trait and one of the top three areas that need to be improved.
Knowing how to communicate in a way that encourages commitment and an understanding of how to be successful is vital to being a good manager … This involves understanding how to personally model the business strategy and culture, and tell powerful stories that help translate that strategy into action for each person.
This calls to mind a powerful line in The Leader’s Voice: “The biggest problem with leadership communication is the illusion that it has occurred.”