I’ve been thinking about the leaves in the backyard of the Remarkable House (what we call the residence that we purchased and converted into our offices). It is easy to think about these leaves, because there is a lot of them!
The culprits are two large beautiful Maple trees, far older then I or likely anyone reading this post. While these trees are beautiful, they pose a problem. Since they are different varieties they shed their leaves at vastly different times. The leaves on one tree have been on the ground for more than two weeks, while the other tree still stubbornly is holding onto about 1/3 of its foliage.
Because of this difference, I have been watching the leaves accumulate, and strategizing when to rake. My logic was if I raked too soon, I’d have to do it all again. This logic is correct, and while there are many leaves left, we did finally rake up 15 55 gallon trash bags full yesterday. Why did I rake, even though many leaves remain on the tree? Because the day was right, and looking at my calendar, I didn’t know when the available time (with favorable weather) would be. Knowing there would be re-work, we raked yesterday anyway.
As I’ve been thinking through this process all fall, it has occurred to me that many leaders treat communication like raking the leaves: they know the communication needs to take place, and they will get to it, but they are waiting for just the right time, and besides they figure if they wait until that “right time”, they can communicate to everyone at once and save some re-work.
The problem with this leadership communication strategy is that it is flawed in almost every way. As leaders one of our most fundamental tasks is communication. Too many leaders wait for “just the right time” or lament that they “sent everyone the email” and assume the communication task is complete.
Just like the wind will blow in more leaves and raking will need to happen again, so too with our communication. If you want to have greater leadership influence, and if you want to enhance your leadership skills, communicate more often and in more different ways.
Rather than waiting for the perfect time, communicate now. Find another reason or another medium, and reinforce that message next week (or tomorrow). Even if you don’t have all the information (some of your leaves are still on the tree), tell people what you do know. By doing this you will be building trust while sharing information that your team needs to be successful.
Finally before you dismiss this advice as a leadership style issue – forget it. The need for communication trumps style – our role as a leader requires us to communicate. Our desire to be a highly effective leader, demands that we not only build our communication skills, but communicate frequently.
Don’t wait for the perfect time, or to have all the information. Communicate! Even if it means you have to do it three or four times (because you will likely have to do it three times or more anyway).
Pick up your rake, and get started.
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