I have personally noticed a relatively recent trend of electronic correspondence being not responded to or not responded to for some amount of time. This caused me to re-evaluate the most effective means of communicating messages, particularly the important culture changing of messaging. Of course, the advent of e-mail alooked one author to communicate potentially instantly with others around the globe if they were connected via service providers and the world wide web. Its invention changed the power of communicating with speed...the "power of thought" as some would come to call it.
However, we have now become tethered to much technology such as instant messaging, social media like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter that transmit information almost instantly from an event or an occurrence. The challenge for leaders who attempt to lead by messaging, e-mail or other communication is that it gets lost among the onslaught of communications.
The challenge for leaders, particularly in large and complex organizations, is to lead by example, not by e-mail. This may be challenging as it requires time, commitment, energy and not the simple push of a send button. The balance is the reality of how best to communicate across a global workforce or metropolitan department across geographical distance, varying shifts and volunteer schedules.
Successful football teams are led by successful coaches. They study film and develop plays with their team for each and every week of the season preparing for their opponents. When game day arrives, the plans are executed as drawn and trained for. Course adjustments are made directly from the sideline or play booths and communicated directly to the quarterback or defensive units. In fact, at the most critical junctions of failure or success, oftentimes time outs are called and huddles occur allowing face-to-face strategy and execution sessions. All this occurs with successful teams being led by successful leaders with direct communications. This leverages relationships that have been forged over an off season and season-long journey learning each team member's strengths and weakness and how they complement each other.
The next time before you press send, ask yourself "Is this how I would want to receive this message and what am I conveying to those I have been selected to lead?"
