Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively.
Gerald R. Ford – 38th President of the United States of America
Mr. Ford’s rise to the Presidency was not a traditional path. Moving from Speaker of the House in Congress to the Vice President role upon the resignation of the then Vice President and the subsequent rise to the Presidency upon the then President’s resignation is a strange path to arrive at a role in any situation. This path did require some of the greatest levels of outstanding communication.
Most people might not even remember him and his political rise. If they do, they likely associate him with a couple of events. The first and potentially most significant event of his Presidency was the pardoning of his predecessor, President Nixon. The other thing that happened more frequently than he preferred was tripping and falling.
Focusing on President Nixon’s pardon, President Ford had to communicate this decision to a nation that had been rocked by scandal at the same time, a significant descent regarding involvement in the Vietnam War. His primary communication, which many did not favor, was to demonstrate the use of pardon to unite a country rather than continue to cause division. History supports that this single communication likely limited his presidency to a single term. His communication on this topic was concise, even though he knew his message would likely not be well received in a nation of unrest.
President Ford’s communication to the nation was broadcast on television for all to witness. Not only did he verbalize his pardon, but he also signed it directly in front of the viewing audience during the broadcast. He was communicating verbally and physically to the nation a definitive signal that he was seeking to fulfill his predecessor’s primary objective of world peace, and it was starting in the very office his predecessor occupied shortly before his pardon.
Hopefully, as business owners, we are not placed into such a critical decision point in our business operations, but we can absolutely learn that it is not just what we say or do but equally how our communication shapes the future. When discussing communication as imperative to success, success may or may not be directly related to your success. Still, potentially, it is for many others who are not directly involved in your communication.
This week, as we have just wrapped up the month of acknowledging our United States Presidents, take some time as a leader and examine your communication, verbal, written, demonstrated, and any other means by which you convey leadership insights to those inside and influenced by your organization. If you were the recipient, would you take away the correct insights and be able to apply them to a successful outcome?
At JKL Associates, our Promise Guide approach helps leaders be at their very best in all aspects of their leadership roles. Even the best leaders have and use a set of trusted advisors to achieve the best results being pursued. Give JKL Associates a call to discuss how a Promise Guide Relationship can enable your growth to be your best. – MI (313) 527-7945 or FL (407) 984-7246
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Celebrating 30 years of Delivering on “Promises”
