Introduction
Communication is the key to almost all aspects of human existence. In today’s fast paced world it has evolved far beyond being a tool for just conveying information. As we climb up the ladder of life filled with our ambitions and aspirations we, as human beings strive for many qualities and leadership skills that will make the journey smoother. As Deborah J. Barret states, “leaders are individuals who guide, direct, motivate, or inspire others” (2006. P. 385) Therefore these leadership skills go way beyond our natural abilities and talents and rely largely on how we interact with people, how effectively we are able to communicate and convey messages to them. It is no surprise therefore that the words “leadership skills” and “communication” have become synonymous with each other and often mentioned together.
In this article I wish to examine the results of a self-assessment test that I took part in to assess my personal leadership abilities and identify areas that require some assistance and development. The leadership self-assessment test that I undertook is designed by Peter Koestenbaum, PhD. (Pib. 2010) outlined in the Philosophy of Business (PiB) website. According to the test and the formation of the leadership diamond, he outlines four major attributes that are important in effective communication and necessary for being a leader. They are:
1. Ethics.
2. Vision.
3. Reality
4. Courage.
Four interdependent qualities that, are necessary in equal proportions to make up a perfect “Leadership Diamond”. (Pib. 2010. Para.2). The results also gave me an assessment of my communication skills, which in turn contribute to my leadership skills.
Leadership Diamond
Through the questionnaire I realized a few aspects of my personality that I was not aware of earlier and was able to establish a connection between them and my communication skills. In my self-assessment, courage and reality were lacking in stature when compared to the other two traits outlined by Dr. Koestenbaum, and therefore unable to form a perfect diamond. I am happy to say that I scored high on ethics, which, essentially meant that I was sensitive to other’s feelings, and was careful not to tread on anyone’s toes in order to achieve my end. I have always seen myself as a logical person with a practical outlook towards life and relied on my mind rather than my heart when making decisions. I have also always been able to relate with people from different age groups and communicate with them effectively by identifying their insecurities and thereby moulding myself to their comfort zone when communicating with them. However as the assessment pointed out, my over sensitivity and non-objectivity in certain situations have stood in the way of my success despite having a vision for the future. I was able to gauge that, from my uncertain response to question number 6, which addressed the ability to make tough decisions “even if they may adversely affect others.” (Pib. 2010). This is a quality that is very much required if ever I was to rise to the level of a leader. A true leader is one who is able to set aside personal feelings and communicate what is the need of the hour. I realize that this quality of mine sends a non-verbal message of weakness to others and could in the end affect more people than protect. An ability to defy all odds and communicate that you stand for something takes courage and is an important factor for success. There is a long line between speaking words and communicating. “The complication in communication comes from the interruptions or interferences in that transmission, whether the sender causes them or the receiver.” (Barrett. 2006).
I also realized that I did have a vision in life as, I have always been able to find creative solutions to dead-end situations. This is a quality of mine, which, I had not given much credence to but was able to realize through some of the specific questions in the questionnaire such as question number 13,“anticipate change and perceive trends before they become apparent to others.” (Pib. 2010.). However my low perception of reality attributed again to my over-emotional approach and, an imbalance between my ethical and survival standards kept me from achieving my higher goals.
Conclusion
The self-assessment test showed that a well-rounded personality is very vital to maintain a good relationship with people in all aspects of our life. This personality is a necessary mix of knowledge, creativity, sensitivity, visionary thinking and, abstract as well as realistic reasoning and, these attributes together build a person’s communication skills. A good leader is one who is able to think clearly and one who is rid of ambiguity. The interruptions and interferences mentioned by Barrett can be equated to the disruptions in our thought process, which creates confusion and makes us unable to communicate clearly and thereby effectively. When viewed in that context, courage to communicate a bold message has a lot of bearing on clear and subjective thinking when it is required. Now that I know what my strengths are and areas where my strengths are least developed, I can monopolize on my strengths and build on the least developed strengths.
Works Cited
Deborah J. Barrett. “Leadership Communication: A Communication Approach for Senior-
Level Managers.”Handbook of Business Strategy. Emerald Group Publishing, 2006.
Pages 385-390.
Pib.net. “Philosophy-in-Business”. 2010. May 23, 2012. http://www.pib.net/index.htm
