"The biggest problem with leadership communications is the illusion that it has occurred."

Boyd Clarke recently conducted a seminar for the members of CEO Roundtable on how they can improve business results by improving all of their communications – presentations, meetings, staff reviews, one-on-one discussions, in all media, oral, written, visual. This was not a seminar on presentation or speaking techniques/skills. It was a seminar on how to always use the three essential channels of communications:

• Factual
• Emotional
• Symbolic

Communications that creates passionate alignment (and superior results) requires the effective use of all three channels. When these three channels are used the communication will have greater authenticity, foresight and connection with the audience. By not using facts, emotions, and symbols in their communication leaders leave out essential ingredients that stimulate and promote the transfer of meaning and quality decision making. Boyd emphasized the importance of using stories to reduce complexity and increase understanding.

Many leaders make four fatal assumptions in their communications. They assume that:

• Constituents UNDERSTAND what has been communicated
• Constituents AGREE with what was communicated
• Constituents CARE about what was communicated
• Constituents will take APPROPRIATE ACTION