Developing leaders' communication skills at Diageo

Business Communicator, The, November, 2005 by Anonymous

In 2003, Diageo began implementing leadership communication workshops for its senior leaders. While finding innovative ways to address leaders' communication styles, behaviors and skills is a difficult task, the communication team have been able to get leaders to partake in critical self-evaluation by using real-life leadership examples, a number of hands-on exercises and a variety of practical application techniques.

Diageo is the world's largest producer of alcohol beverages including Guinness, Smirnoff vodka, Captain Morgan and Crown Royal. It was formed in 1997 as a result of the merger between Guinness and Grand Metropolitan. Two years later, the company acquired the Seagram's drinks business.

In 2003, after five years of continuous change, the company decided it...