Leadership: Good Leaders are Good Listeners
31 Jan 2008
Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you. ~Exodus 18:19
As the leader of a team or an organization, you set the tone for communication. A leader’s communication must be consistent, clear, and courteous. But leaders must also be good listeners. When leaders don’t listen…
They stop gaining wisdom.
They stop “hearing” what isn’t being said.
Team members stop communicating.
Their indifference begins to spread to other areas.
Ultimately, poor listening leads to hostility, miscommunication, and a breakdown of team cohesion.
How are your listening skills? Give yourself a 360-degree review. Ask for feedback concerning your ability and willingness to listen from your boss or mentor, your colleagues, and your subordinates. If you don’t get good grades from all of them, then quiet down, listen up, and work to become a better communicator.
Blessed for Success
And he blessed Joseph and said, ” . . . The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” Genesis 48: 15-16
Not everyone you influence will think the same way you do. You have to help them not only believe that they can succeed, but also show them that you want them to succeed.
How do you do that?
1. Expect it: People can sense your underlying attitude no matter what you say or do. If you have an expectation for your people to be successful, they will know it.
2. Verbalize it: People need to hear you tell them that you believe in them and want them to succeed. Become a positive prophet of their success.
3. Reinforce it: You can never do too much when it comes to believing in people.
Once people recognize and understand that you genuinely want to see them succeed and are committed to helping them, they will begin to believe they can accomplish what you give them to do.
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