Eat your heart out, Nancy Kline*.
In conversation with a senior executive client this week we unpacked the personal power of the leader who picks up the phone for a brief call, even if it’s just a ‘Go ahead, you can do this!’ permission or encouragement.
In part thanks to advances in technology, the leader who communicates ‘live’ has a positive impact way beyond the obvious content of the message.
Calling someone live and spontaneously says ‘You matter’ and ‘I am a real person with a voice and a personality’.
The skill to be learned might be how to keep calls brief but for senior leaders the surprise of the recipient might be sufficient to avert long discussions. At least that’s what my client found. In our follow up today he’d already called (instead of emailing) four more junior people – to their surprise and, hopefully, delight.
Why not give it a try?
*’Thinking for yourself is a radical act.’ Nancy Kline, Time to Think (1999)