Great Leaders Are Also Great Listeners

Issue #17

This week I had the pleasure of facilitating a leadership development workshop for a group of 50 or so young women at a local all girls high school. After chatting with the dean of students, we chose three lessons from my book to focus on based on the fact that these young women all hold leadership positions currently and wish to further develop their skills. One of the lessons covered was …

Become a Better Listener

While many leadership roles require us to lead with action and through giving direction, great leaders understand that listening is also a critical piece in the overall success of a group, team or organization. And I shared with the young women that it actually goes beyond just listening with our ears and learning to truly pay attention.

At its core, I believe the purpose of being in a leadership position is to create more leaders. And in order to do so, we really need to fully understand those within our care. A few good ways to achieve this include:

• Letting others speak first, especially in collaborative meetings
• Encouraging the “quiet” ones to share their thoughts (we always have plenty to say, we just need a push sometimes)
• Making sure everyone is fully utilizing their skills and talents for the good of the whole

The simple act of asking a few thoughtful questions and then truly listening to the answers might uncover ideas and options you may have never known were possible.

Which takes us back to the lesson, and why it’s so important to become a better listener if you want to become a better leader.

Is there an area in your life, at home or at work where you have room for improvement?

If so, I’d encourage you to focus on listening in the weeks ahead and watch your relationships bloom and your team or organization rise to a new level.

With you on the journey…