How not to be

I’m not into going negative, but since April is all about leader/communicators, let’s look at what the best ones never do. If you want to be an effective leader/communicator:

NEVER be a narcissist: Other people don’t exist to reinforce your perception of yourself. They have their own stories, their own fears, their own needs and hopes. What you say should be of service to whoever you’re talking to, even if it’s a clear, compassionate explanation of why you’re laying them off.

NEVER be unpredictable: You may love thinking about a million ideas at once, but it’s scary for people to hear your stream of consciousness chaos. Your employees don’t know what action to take, your customers don’t know what to buy, your investors don’t know how to measure your success. Describe the road ahead. Stay on it. When you pivot, prepare everyone for the change.

NEVER wing it: If you want to destroy your credibility and your company, just try changing positions without warning and making stuff up, or showing up at a Q&A without prepping. Oh - and tweet while high.

NEVER lose control of your emotions: If your impatience compels you to talk over and interrupt people, you’ll shut down productive dialogue. If you’re always angry people will stop telling you the truth, which can tank a company. Effective leader/communicators get bad news, overcome resistance, and persuade naysayers without losing their cool.

NEVER delegate your essential leadership role to others: Every leader is always a communicator. It’s your vision. Your company. Your responsibility. Don’t abdicate your job to help others see what you see.

NEVER blow off feedback: How others see you is more important than how you see yourself or your ideas. Perception is reality. You will remain blind if you only look in the mirror.