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Leaders: Listen More Than You Speak
Actively listen and lead short; listen intentionally and lead far.
In The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership (AFF), Steven B. Sample writes, “The average person suffers from three delusions: 1) that he is a good driver, 2) that he has a good sense of humor, and 3) that he is a good listener.”
I don’t know about you, but it is certainly amazing to me how many leaders think of themselves to be good listeners, but act themselves differently. This is why self-awareness is so critical in leadership, especially today.
Mr. Sample goes on to say, “Many leaders are terrible listeners; they actually think talking is more important than listening. But Contrarian leaders know it is better to listen first and talk later. And when they listen, they do so artfully.”
Moving From Active Listening to Intentional Listening
“Actively listen and lead short; listen intentionally and lead far” — William Ballard
A lot has been said and written about active listening, but I think it’s time for some innovation on the concept. You see, there’s a difference between hearing someone and listening to someone. You can “actively” hear someone but not…
