Things Leaders Do
Things Leaders Do is the go-to podcast for leaders who want real, actionable strategies—not just theory. Whether you're a new leader stepping into management or a seasoned executive refining your skills, host Colby Morris delivers practical tools and processes you can start using today to lead with confidence, clarity, and impact.
Each episode breaks down key leadership topics with humor, insight, and real-world application, covering:
✅ How to communicate effectively and build trust in your team
✅ The secrets to high-performance leadership and team culture
✅ Handling setbacks and leading under pressure
✅ How to be a people-first leader without losing accountability
✅ Mastering the balance between strategy, execution, and influence
No fluff. No vague concepts. Just tactical advice that helps you grow as a leader and drive real results in your business or organization.
Subscribe now and join thousands of leaders leveling up their skills. Because leadership isn’t about what you say—it’s about what you do.
🔑 Keywords: leadership, leadership development, new managers, executive coaching, team culture, business growth, personal development, management strategies, communication skills, success, accountability, productivity
Things Leaders Do
Why Listening is the Cornerstone of People-First Leadership
Why Listening is the Cornerstone of People-First Leadership
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, host Colby Morris dives deep into the transformative power of listening in leadership. Inspired by Andy Stanley’s impactful quote, “Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say,” Colby explores why listening is essential for building trust, empowering teams, and creating a people-first culture.
Learn actionable strategies to become a better listener, foster open communication, and develop a culture of engagement. Colby shares insights on overcoming barriers to team communication, practical steps for active listening, and how leaders can amplify their influence by valuing the voices of their people.
Whether you’re a seasoned executive, a new manager, or someone looking to grow as a leader, this episode is packed with tools you can implement today to strengthen your leadership and elevate your team.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why leaders who fail to listen lose their team’s trust and engagement.
- How to practice active listening with presence, curiosity, and action.
- Strategies to overcome the top barriers to team communication.
- The connection between listening and being a people-first leader.
- How to create a culture of listening that empowers innovation and trust.
Key Takeaways:
- Listening builds trust, and trust is the currency of leadership.
- Being present, asking thoughtful questions, and acting on feedback are key elements of active listening.
- A people-first leader prioritizes relationships and creates safe spaces for open dialogue.
- Modeling a culture of listening inspires your team to share their ideas and insights freely.
About the Host:
Colby Morris is a seasoned leader with experience across all levels of leadership, from new manager to executive. He is passionate about equipping leaders with actionable tools to grow their teams and drive organizational success. Colby is available for speaking engagements, from team gatherings to conferences, webinars, and one-on-one coaching sessions\u2014in person or virtual.
Resources & Links:
- Connect with Colby Morris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/
- Interested in having Colby speak at your next event or lead a coaching session? Colby@NXTStepAdvisors.com
- Don’t forget to subscribe to Things Leaders Do and share this episode with another leader who could benefit!
Tags:
#Leadership #PeopleFirstLeadership #ActiveListening #AndyStanley #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipPodcast #TeamEngagement #CultureBuilding #ListeningSkills #ColbyMorris #ThingsLeadersDo
Welcome to Things Leaders Do, the podcast that uncovers the secrets of becoming an extraordinary leader. If you're a leader who's constantly seeking growth, inspiration and tangible ways to level up your leadership, then you've come to the right place. Remember, the world needs exceptional leaders, and that leader is you. Now here's your host, colby Morris is you.
Speaker 2:Now. Here's your host, colby Morris. Hello leaders, and welcome back to the TLD Podcast. I'm Colby Morris, your host. I'm an experienced leader who has led from every position of leadership. Believe me, I've been there Everything like from frontline new manager, middle manager and executive. I've been there. I've been there with you.
Speaker 2:My goal for this podcast is simple it's just to give you actionable tools, give you actionable processes that you can start using today. I want to help you be a better leader faster. Today I want to talk to you about something fundamental to leadership, and it's a quote that's been on my mind a lot lately from Andy Stanley. Andy said this leaders who don't listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say. Ouch, this simple yet profound idea gets to the heart of why listening is an essential skill for leaders. But listening isn't just like a nice to have skill. It is literally the bedrock of being a people first leader. And that's our focus for today how listening connects to people first leadership and why it's critical for your success as a leader. So grab your coffee, your tea or whatever and let's dig in and hopefully, by the end of this episode, you'll have clear, actionable steps to strengthen your listening and elevate your team. So let's start by unpacking Andy Stanley's quote there Leaders who don't listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say. Well, what does that mean? Well, it's a warning. Okay, it's a warning about the consequences of ignoring the voices of those you lead. When leaders fail to listen, they send a message, whether it's intentional or not, that their team's input doesn't matter and over time, you can imagine right, this leads to disengagement, it leads to frustration and, ultimately, silence. Think about it how many great ideas, crucial warnings or innovative solutions have been lost because a leader wasn't listening.
Speaker 2:Listening isn't just hearing words. It's about creating an environment where people feel safe and valued enough to actually share their thoughts. Listening also defines your leadership legacy. Do you want to be remembered as a leader who empowered your team to speak up, or one who shut them down? Listening builds trust, and trust is the currency of leadership. Without it, your influence dies. Finally, listening is a skill that improves with practice. Like any other leadership competency, it's going to require intentionality. When you approach listening as this cornerstone of leadership, you actually lay the foundation for deeper connections, for better decision making, for stronger results.
Speaker 2:All right, let's break it down a little bit. Why do people stop speaking up? There are three common reasons. The first is fear of dismissal. If a team member's input is consistently brushed off, they'll stop offering it. You don't want to hear it, I'm not going to tell you. And then two perceived futility. If nothing changes after feedback is given, people will start thinking why bother? It's the same like with you know poll surveys and stuff like that that the HR team sends out, that the HR team sends out. If people never see the action being taken on those surveys, eventually they don't understand why they're doing it. Okay, so you have to work with your HR team to actually bring about change. And then three lack of trust. Without a strong relationship. Without a strong relationship, team members are going to feel it's safer to just stay silent than to risk being vulnerable.
Speaker 2:A people-first leader works proactively to address all these barriers. They lean into what we discussed in previous episodes building personal connections and fostering psychological safety. When you show your team that you care about their input, their fears and those doubts, they go away. You don't have to worry about that. All right, look, listening isn't passive, it's an action. Look, listening isn't passive, it's an action.
Speaker 2:So I'm going to give you three ways to actively listen as a people first leader. Number one be present. Okay, being present means more than just showing up physically. It's about fully engaging in the conversation. When a team member speaks, give them your attention, full attention. Silence your phone, close your laptop, hey, make eye contact. By eliminating those distractions, you communicate that their words are actually important. Okay, present isn't just a sign of respect, it's a demonstration of your commitment to understanding them.
Speaker 2:Two ask questions. Questions are the bridge between hearing and understanding. After someone shares their thoughts, follow up with a meaningful question. Can you elaborate on that, or what do you think we should do next? Those are simple ways to invite deeper conversation. Asking questions also signals curiosity and humility. It's your way of saying. Your perspective matters and I want to learn from it. And then three act on the feedback. Listening doesn't end when the conversation does.
Speaker 2:Okay, the real impact of listening comes from taking action. When you implement a suggestion or address a concern raised by your team, you show that their input actually has value. Even if you can't act on the feedback, immediately communicate why, acknowledge their effort. This closes the loop and reinforces that speaking up does make a difference, okay, okay, being a people first leader means recognizing that your team members are more than just employees. They are human beings with ideas, emotions and aspirations. When you actively listen, you affirm their worth.
Speaker 2:In our recent episodes, we talked about how people-first leadership focuses on relationships. Listening is a key ingredient in those relationships. It's how you learn what's going on with your team, both professionally and personally. It's how you discover their motivations, their pain points and their dreams. Think about it how can you lead someone effectively if you don't know what's on their mind? Finally, let's zoom out a little bit.
Speaker 2:Listening isn't just a personal leadership practice. It's a culture. When you model active listening, you set the tone for your entire team. Over time, they'll begin to emulate that behavior in their own interactions. So here are two ways to build a listening culture. First, encourage open dialogue. Create regular opportunities for your team to share, whether it's through one-on-ones, your team meetings or even anonymous feedback. Maybe you have a suggestion box. Two, I want you to celebrate their contributions Publicly acknowledge ideas and input that have made a difference. Recognition reinforces the value of speaking up, as you see that your team is listening. That leads to better decisions and stronger relationships, and when they see it, they'll invest in it too. So, leaders, here's your challenge Commit to listening as an active, intentional practice. Make space for your team's voices. Let them know they're heard, they're valued and they're respected, because here's the truth Leaders who don't listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say. But leaders who do listen, they'll have teams that are engaged, innovative and loyal.
Speaker 2:All right, before you go, make sure to subscribe and share this podcast with another leader. If you think they could benefit, please share it with them. And don't forget to connect with me on LinkedIn. I love to hear your thoughts and continue the conversations over there. The link is in the show notes, and if you're looking for someone to speak at your next team gathering, your conference, or even if you need one-on-one coaching sessions, I'd love to help. I'm available for both virtual and in-person engagements. I love to work together to create impactful experiences that inspire and equip your teams. You can email me at Colby at next step advisors, and that's N X, t, next step advisors no E in there. And again, you can always contact me on my LinkedIn page. So leaders, go out there, listen, listen well, and you know why Because those are the things that leaders do.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to Things Leaders Do. If you're looking for more tips on how to be a better leader, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and listen to next week's episode. Until next time, keep working on being a better leader by doing the things that leaders do.