As a society, we know how important communication is just by looking at the number of means we have to be able to communicate with others, such as computers, cell phones, email, text messaging, websites, Facebook, Twitter and the list goes on.
Yet, I’m sure many of you can recall a time when you said, “We need to communicate better,” or “If only there was better communication.”
A lack of communication may have resulted in a failure to meet a deadline, forgetting to check the cattle’s water on a hot day, an employee deciding to leave a company or an organization’s resolution failing to pass because the membership was uninformed.
Good communication can help a business be successful, a ranch or feedyard reach their goals and organizations accomplish their mission.
Clear, concise communication – from top to bottom in a business, across all employees and throughout an organization – can result in outcomes and achievements only a team that is communicating effectively will be able to achieve.
In my recent research project, “What Brings People to Leadership Roles: A study of Agricultural Leaders,” twelve national beef industry leaders were interviewed to provide a perspective on leadership in the agricultural industry.
Many important elements of leadership and traits of leaders were identified in the study, in addition to the significance of communication in leadership.
This column will focus on the importance and effectiveness of a leader’s ability to communicate when serving in a volunteer role in an agricultural organization.
However, many of the points presented could also be applied to a setting where you may be managing employees, dealing with clients or customers, working in small groups or communicating with your family.
Leaders must have the ability to communicate in order to express their point, lead the organization and bring people together.
Think about successful people you know in business, politics or another entity. Are they good communicators? Are they good leaders?
With the achievement that seamless communication can generate, it’s no wonder the capacity to communicate is a must in a leader’s skill set. Being an excellent communicator goes hand-in-hand with being a successful leader.
Effective leaders are measured in their capability to communicate in these ways:
1. They have the ability to articulate ideas
Remember back when you were in elementary school? Spelling was a primary course but, along with spelling, was the focus on pronouncing words, speaking clearly and learning to articulate. This was a form of outward communication.
By focusing on clear, concise and accurate communication you augmented your ability to express your thoughts and convey your ideas. Outward communication for those serving as leaders is essential.
A leader must be able to share a message – whether it is complex or not – so those receiving the communication can clearly understand the message.
The more effectively you communicate the message, the more you will be understood. Not communicating the message effectively can result in miscommunication and possibly misrepresentation of your organization.
If your message matches what you say and what you represent, the outcome will be enhanced.
Those serving in leadership roles of agricultural organizations become spokespersons for the organization, their peers and their industry.
Their message represents the many voices and members of the organization or industry. Therefore, it goes without saying that a leader’s ability to communicate the message is critical to the organization and the industry.
2. They have the ability to listen
Listening and the ability to listen were identified as equally crucial elements of communication for leaders as outward communication.
Current leaders interviewed in the study said, “A leader must have the ability to listen first and listen actively.”
The study participants emphasized that leaders are not necessarily the first to speak on a subject but they take it all in and then are able to take the discussion to a more unified level, because they took the time to listen.
As one agricultural leader said: “They take an analytical approach to digesting the information and what has been done and, in the next breath, discussing what it might be.”
Ensuring they are hearing and gaining input from those who they represent (e.g. membership), adds to the leaders’ ability to contribute to the quality of the final action or policy of that organization. Communicating with others is important but truly listening to them adds a new dimension of a leader.
3. They have the ability to engage people
Skilled leaders have the ability to involve others so they become an active part of the conversation and make others feel like what they have to say is important to the discussion.
The end result is communication that flows in both directions. When communication flows openly, members of organizations feel empowered to express their thoughts and ideas with top leadership.
Those in top leadership roles have demonstrated they have the ability to connect and resonate with members. This opens doors for successful accomplishments of the organization and breaks down barriers that develop when communication is strained.
The end result is a trusting environment where confidence and collaboration grow. A leader who openly listens to both sides and engages both sides in a conversation creates a solid trusting environment.
Creating an open environment with two-way communication will result in adding value to the situation.
A leader’s ability to convey the message, listen to those he or she represents and move the organization forward by engaging others, all stem from the ability to be a communicator. 
PHOTO
The ability to engage and involve team members allows two-way communication to thrive in an operation. Photo courtesy of Progressive Cattleman staff.
Lynn Gordon
Extension Field Specialist
South Dakota State University
