Leadership - Everything Starts With Listening

Leadership - Everything Starts With Listening

Everything? Well… of course there has to be sounds of words first, that we then listen to in the verbal process of communication.

But in this verbal process, every request, every action that follows, every concern, every positive word and negative word or words is dependent on listening.

Listening is the core of the verbal communication process.

So often we are caught up with other distractions: these may be as simple as the 'noise' of the office environment the thoughts which are occupying our mind at the time someone begins the conversation or the request verbally and any number of other distractions to divert the listening process.

Without listening taking place there is no communication.

One of the team comes to you with an issue, politely ask for your attention and you, hopefully also politely but perhaps abruptly say “Not now Adam, can this wait ?”

The team member then silently agrees to this ‘brush off’.

The manager, in this case, regards whatever is on his mind is far more important than whatever the team member is wanting to share with them.

The team member might be thinking ‘that’s the last time I’m gonna tell him we’re about to crash.’

 Of course leaders and even managers DO have priorities, they have ‘urgencies’. 

The best leaders are also the best listeners.

When team members know this, they know that their views their suggestions their requests their explanation of a new idea will all be regarded with respect and genuine listening by their leader.

Listening – without judgment – without jumping to the conclusion before they’ve heard the full context, is not only a key to building relationships with team members, but also reinforcing credibility with team members.

“He/she ALWAYS listens to me” is a high order-compliment from a team member… or indeed anyone in the organization.

Before anything can be achieved, before any issue can be resolved, before any major… or even minor change can be considered and then implemented, the power of listening cannot be overstated.

This also applies in our personal life. How often has your partner said “You never listen to me.” Ouch.

In all aspects of our lives, with family members, in the workplace, even our connection with strangers, listening is the core of the communication. 

It is fundamental to building any relationship… especially with those you’re leading.