“If you can’t communicate effectively, you will not lead,” Marine Lieutenant Colonel Rob Riggle says in the forward. To be a great leader, you must be an excellent communicator. The paradox is that we have been communicating our whole lives and are frequently unaware of the impact of our communication skills. Communication requires work and practice to improve.
This book takes an interesting and systematic look at nine principles of effective communication for leaders. The nine principles are adapted from the book, Warfighting: U.S. Marine Corps Doctrinal Principle Publication No. 1, which is required reading for every Marine.
There is a chapter dedicated to each principle. It explains the principle and shows how it works or not. The stories of each principle in action make this book a fascinating read. Analyzing historical and contemporary events through the leadership communication lens, such as Katrina, Netflix, the BP oil spill, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs, is helpful and insightful.
He also uses scientific research in many places to back up the principles. He turns the whole concept of using logic to lead on its head. First, connect with the person; he writes, “We are feeling machines who also think.”
When teaching workshops, I have adapted several of the concepts. Start communication by “Framing” what you are going to say. The example given in the book is, “I am not a crook” – of course, the first thing you think of is crook! Adapting it to project managers might go something like this, “The project is late,” creates a different frame from, “The project is 97% done and will be complete in 2 days after initially scheduled”.
This is a must-read for any leader who is serious about improving their leadership and communication skills.
