I learned how to be a better leader when I learned to Listen to Others. For me, this has been a particular challenge. I am strong-willed, aggressive, and opinionated. While these traits have served me in certain ways, they do not help me motivate and inspire. When I’m at my worst, I know everything! So for me to become a better leader, I had to slow down and listen, really listen, to what others have to say. To become a better listener, we must ask three questions:
1) Why Listen?
2) How do I Improve?
3)What Benefits Will I Get For Listening?
1)Why Listen?
The surest way to motivate and inspire others is to show them that you value them. And there is no easier or better way to do that than to simply listen to what they have to say. Leaders often extol the importance of communication, but when they put this principle into practice, the conversation flows only one way. When leaders function in this way, they unintentionally find themselves living in a world of fiction, one in which no one trusts the leader enough to tell the unvarnished truth. When our listening allows others to speak with real candor, then a culture of trust will electrify our results!
2)How do I Improve?
Listening is a skill, and like most skills, it can be improved by practicing successful techniques. Among these are: eliminating distractions when listening to another, maintaining eye contact, taking notes, asking questions, listening to understand- not to reply, and practicing reflective listening. When we do our best listening, we feel as if we are seeing into the other person, not around them to focus on something else. As we increase our listening competence, those around us will know, see, and feel that our interest in them is legitimate and sincere. When we value people and prove it to them with our commitment to listen, then all of those around us will begin to trust their leadership team.
3)What Benefits Will I Get For Listening?
When others know that you are listening, they will feel more connected, and their trust will grow. When others trust leaders in the organization, an avalanche of good results will happen. Problems are minimized because candid conversations happen sooner. Plans and tactics are clearer, as obstacles are discussed more forthrightly. Distractions are reduced, as there are comparatively fewer competing agendas. Decision-making improves as better information yields better outcomes. In short, when we as leaders listen, everybody wins. Once we believe that listening to others can and will grow our leadership and serve our organization, then results will improve, and everyone will feel called to become their best version of themselves.
When a leader builds a listening culture, then everyone will be motivated to take another step.
Are you a great listener?
What areas of listening are you good in? What areas of listening need some improvement?
Continue to share your success stories on how listening to others has changed your organization for the better!
