FEEDBACK

Leadership means communicating with others in such a way that they are influenced and motivated to perform actions that further common goals and lead toward desired outcomes.  Communication is a process by which information and understanding are transferred between a sender and receiver, such as between a leader and an employee, an instructor and a student, or a coach and a football player.


Feedback is the element of the communication process that enables someone to determine whether the receiver correctly interpreted the message.  Feedback occurs when a receiver responds to a leader's communication with a return message.  Without feedback, the communication cycle is incomplete.  Effective communication involves both the transference and mutual understanding of information.  The nature of effective communication is cyclical, in that a sender and receiver may exchange messages several times to achieve a mutual understanding.  The ongoing process of sending, receiving and feedback to test understanding underlies both management and leadership communication.

10 KEYS TO EFFECTIVE LISTENING

How well do you listen? 

Listening involves the skill of grasping and interpreting a message's genuine meaning.  Remember that message reception is a vital link in the communication process. 

1. Listen Actively - Ask questions; paraphrase what is said
2. Find areas of interest - Look for opportunities, new learning
3. Resist distractions - Fight distractions; tolerated bad habits; know how to concentrate
4. Capitalize on the fact that thought is faster than speech - Challenge, anticipate, summarize; listen between lines to tone of voice
5. Be responsive - Nod; show interest, positive feedback
6. Judge content, not delivery - Judge content; skip over delivery a errors
7. Hold one's fire - Does not judge until comprehension is complete
8. Listen for ideas - Listens to sentral themes
9. Work at listening - Work hard; exhibit active body state, eye contact
10. Exercise one's mind - Use heavier material as exercise for the mind

Source: Adapted from Sherman Okum, "How to Be a Better Listener", Nation's Business (August 1975)