Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:28 — 16.9MB) | Embed

Listening: To connect with their heart, use your ears!

The ear of a leader must ring with the voices of the people – President Woodrow Wilson

A good leader encourages followers to tell him what he needs to know, not what he wants to hear – John Maxwell

Effective leading touches a heart before asking for a hand. This is the key statement in the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Before a leader can touch a heart, he must take the time to know what is in it. He learns that by listening!

An unwillingness to listen is too common among leaders. Peter Drucker believes that 60% of all management problems are the result of faulty communications. It would seem reasonable that the overwhelming majority of communication problems come from poor listening!

In our social digital media world there are a lot of voices begging for your attention. Keep in mind there are two reasons for listening: one is to connect with people and the other is to learn. For this reason you need to keep your ears open the following groups of people.

YOUR FOLLOWERS

Good leaders, the kind that people want to follow, do more than conduct business, they interact with followers. Take the time to get a feel for each follower on your team. Philip Stanhope stated that men would rather you heard their story than grant their request! If you are a leader that only listens to the facts and not the person, change your focus and really start listening.

YOUR CUSTOMERS

There is an old Cherokee saying, “Listen to the whispers and you will not have to hear the screams!” I am amazed by leaders who get so caught up in their ideas that they never hear their customers’ concerns, complaints, and suggestions. In his book @ The Speed of Thought, Bill Gates said, “Unhappy customers are always a concern. They are always your greatest opportunity. Good leaders always make it a priority to keep in contact with the people they are serving.

YOUR COMPETITERS

Sam Markewich stated, “If you do not agree with me, it means that you are not listening!” He was making a joke when he stated this, but sadly many leaders act this way. You can get so busy building your case that you forget to notice and learn from what others are doing. Larry King once stated that nothing I say today will teach me anything. So if I am going to learn, I must start listening!

YOUR MENTORS

No leader is so advanced or experienced that he can afford to be without a mentor. I have learned so mush from leaders who have more experience than I will ever have. If you do not have a mentor, get busy and discover one. If you cannot get one to help you in person, start reading books. The main idea here is to get started.

So how do we apply this information?

Change your schedule. DO you take the time to listen? If you do not have this scheduled on your calendar, you are probably not very serious about this topic.

Meet people on their turf. The key to being a good listener is to find common ground with people. This starts by asking a series of good questions about the person to whom you are speaking. Seek to know people and then build bridges of relationship.

Listen between the lines. As you interact with people you certainly want to listen to the facts in the conversation. But do not overlook the emotional content of what is being said. There are times that you can learn more about a person by listening between the lines. Learn to listen with your heart!

President Theodore Roosevelt was a man of action and good listener and he appreciated this quality in others also. Once at a gala he became bored with the stiff mindless pleasantries. So he began to greet people with a smile, saying, I murdered your grandmother this morning,” Most people were so nervous about meeting him never really heard what they said. However, one diplomat did hear and responded, I am sure she had it coming! The only way to find out what you are missing, start listening.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

A Journey Toward Significance – Take The SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE