Good leaders know that their job is better done when they have as many people on their side as possible. No one leader can have his or her eyes and ears everywhere without the help of others. We have mentioned before the importance of being able to connect with and inspire your employees and a key factor in that is that a good leader is a good listener. Learn some tips provided by HARVEY SCHACHTER posted on www.theglobeandmail.com.
A Good Leader is a Good Listener
Danger ahead: Executive not listening. A road sign similar to that might be useful for the corridors of a company where senior managers view conversation as one-way affairs, and refuse to listen to others.
“Listening is a valuable skill that most executives spend little time cultivating,” consultant Bernard Ferrari writes in the McKinsey Quarterly.
To improve, he says, focus on three elements:
1. Show respect: To run a complex organization, you must solicit advice from all corners. Let everyone know that you are open to their viewpoints. Being respectful doesn’t mean avoiding tough questions; good listeners routinely ask them to uncover the information they need. “The goal is ensuring the free and open flow of information and ideas,” he writes.
2. Keep quiet: Your conversation partner should be speaking 80 per cent of the time while you limit yourself to about 20 per cent. To make your speaking time count, ask questions that point the other party in the right direction.
It is far too easy to hear without listening and you should know that people can tell when you are not listening to them. A good leader is a good listener, someone who clearly and authentically considers and respects all viewpoints.
