While conducting a leadership workshop last week, I was asked by the floor, "Sean, what should I do today to equip myself for a leadership position tomorrow?"

That reminded me of some Google searches I recently made.

I was looking for webpages that contain both leadership and management materials. Intuitively I typed 'leadership management' in the search engine. It returned 32.9 million results, with pages like 'Leadership vs. Management' to the 'Institute of Leadership and Management'

It caught my attention. So as the relationship by using search engine.

Then I asked myself, "what about the relationship of leadership to finance? And how does it compare to leadership and management. Is the world out there more concerned about keeping tidy or making money?" This time Google returned 60.7 million webpages, ranging from 'Leader in Finance' to 'The Finance Leadership Exchange'.

As a professional communicator, I put my expertise to the test. I typed 'leadership communication' on the white bar and hit the 'Search' button.

"Boom. 330 million results!" I cried out in exclamation. Results ranged from 'Leadership, Communication & Change' to 'Communications Leadership Institute'. It was 10 times higher than returns for leadership and management, and 5.4 times greater than leadership and finance.

Being a good communicator is the key to leadership.

When you take a look at great leaders in history, you will find nearly all of them were great communicators. With the advance of technology, you can easily go back in time and become a member of an audience in front of Churchill, Mother Teresa, Mao or Martin Luther King Jr. Whatever area of expertise you are pursuing, if you want to strive for leadership in your field, one day you will be required to present your views. Whatever views or opinions that you stand for, if you want to stand for a leadership position, one day you will be invited to market your proposals.

Take a look at leaders of our time, definitely they make their way through by being great communicators. They won elections by speaking to the hearts of millions, they made deals by addressing the needs of the mass. They evoke actions from those who once refused to please, they inspire thoughts from those who are yet to see.

Looking ahead, communications can only become more accessible, more global yet more local. Communicators who can address the individual, speak to the world, and who can be seen as really walking their talks, are those who will be our leaders tomorrow.

About Writer:

Sean Lin MBA MSc CISA CISM CISSP MHKIM, he is the Director of Corporate Communications Committee, Hong Kong Institute of Marketing. Besides, he is also the Division Governor, Hong Kong, Toastmasters International. Readers are welcome to write to him at slin@hkim.org.hk

(HK Edition 07/30/2009 page3)