If leading is about influence, there is no influence without communication. In this podcast, Andy Yap, Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD, discusses how leaders can inspire and empower others by communicating in a way that appeals to both the head and the heart.

Yap states that it starts with listening. In today’s globalised workplace, leaders must communicate effectively with diverse groups. Doing this well starts with understanding the context and culture of your audience, which has as much to do with listening, observing and reading the room as speaking. The key is to be able to adjust, adapt and sometimes “flow” around resistance. 

He gives his take on a seemingly valuable trait of good communicators: authenticity. But authenticity is not simply about “being yourself”. Instead, it is about aligning what you say and do with your values. When leaders demonstrate this alignment and speak with conviction, they build an important asset: trust.

In practice, even with effective guidelines in place, communication can be highly stressful in certain situations. Yap discusses anticipatory stress and shares how reframing the situation, giving yourself a quick mental nudge and taking deep breaths can help. He speaks about imposter syndrome and how even seasoned leaders – like former United States President Barack Obama – can experience it. It is perfectly normal. 

We can all get better at communication. We need the space to make mistakes, and feedback is critical. Stressing that you can’t learn communication on your own, Yap suggests identifying someone – what he calls his "nasty friend" – who is not afraid to offer honest feedback. Communication, as a skill, is well worth honing. While it is often described as a “soft skill”, Yap adds a twist to this notion: “soft skills aren’t soft, they are your sharpest edge”.