Leadership and communication - Essay Example

It is fair to say that how a leader communicates is dependent upon his or her generation. According to the article entitled “Communication and Leadership,” “Effective communication occurs only if the receiver understands the exact information or idea that the sender intended to transmit”(“Communication and Leadership,” 2010). In this case, the leader would be the sender, and their audience would be the receiver. The leader will need to be aware of how his or her generation chooses to communicate and modify their own communication to these specifications in order for the communication to be deemed effective.

A leader speaking to a group from the 1950s would use markedly different communication than a leader speaking to a group in 2011. The characteristics of my generation today in terms of communication is fairly simple. My generation is one that believes in swiftness and efficiency. This is likely due to having grown up in a society where people get what they want when they want it, also known as a fast food mentality. This mindset has become a part of many other aspects of life including communication.

People want to get their information quickly and with little hassle or confusion. An example of this type of communication can be seen in the emails and text messages that are used in a great deal of communication. The minimal size of text messages in particular has spawned a huge array of abbreviations and shorthand words in order to communicate in as few words as possible. Additionally, it is important to note that another characteristic of my generation’s communication is a certain boldness.

This is due to the anonymity that many people have become accustomed to because of the isolation and separation from face to face interaction that technology gives. This has resulted in the development of new social problems such as cyber bullying and sexting. Leaders in my generation tend to be different as well. Today’s leader has to strike a fine balance between the qualities of intelligence and responsibility and a good personality. Other generations may not have found likability to be so important, but my generation definitely does.

Additionally, looks play an important part as well. Good looking people tend to find themselves in leadership positions more often than those who are not as good looking. Strong speaking skills are also needed in order to be a leader in today’s world. Perhaps a prime example of this would be the current President Barrack Obama. He is a good speaker, well-educated, and a strong orator. He often goes on talk shows such as Jay Leno in order to showcase his personality and sense of humor. The role of president is perhaps one of the most valued leadership roles in the entire world.

Modern presidents typically have these characteristics because today’s generation strongly respond to these qualities, and that is why these type of people tend to be elected into leadership positions. Technology and the Information Age have played a very large role in how leaders communicate today. Many of the most influential leaders of today have their own websites in order to present specific information to their audience. Additionally, the invention of such tools as Youtube, podcasts, and Skype have allowed leaders to reach their audiences in many different formats.

For the most part, technology has given leaders easy access to their audience