Leaders: Listen Up!
As a leader, you must know yourself well — your purpose, your values, your priorities. Others will follow when you earn their respect and trust and one of the most effective ways to do that is to listen — to really listen to others when they speak to you.
Listen Deeply
Listening to others deeply to understand the meaning of what they are saying conveys respect and regard. It also helps to create a powerful interpersonal connection that is so important to a leader.
Understand the Meaning of What is Being Said
A person who is speaking is the only one who really knows what he or she is trying to convey. If that person is forthcoming and open, a listener has an excellent opportunity to learn about that person. By creating a safe emotional space for that exchange, the listener also allows connection and trust to develop. An attentive listener will also be on the lookout for non-verbal communication because meaning is not always clearly articulated with words. [Read more…]
