From Management to Leadership: Strategies for Transforming Health, 3rd Edition

Written Communication

Classic management studies reveal that leaders who hold managerial or executive positions spend approximately three-quarters of their day in spoken communication with others (Mintzberg, 1980). Today, more may occur through electronic communications. Nevertheless, the point is that the majority of a leader’s day is spent in communication. Ideas are not exchanged exclusively by word of mouth. Although oral communication skills are more often used, writing skills are just as pivotal in a leadership practice. The ability to choose words carefully, express thoughts in writing, and create a document that helps followers understand a message leads to better communication. Clear and confident expression of the written word is an ...