Leading from listening
The best advice I ever received from a mentor was to, “be the leader you wished you had.”
Have you ever come across leaders who love the sound of their own voice, who believe they know better and more, and who value their ideas over others’? You’ve probably chosen to no longer work with and for them.
To be the leader you wished you had, I invite you to commit to leading from listening.
Here are three ways to do so and have greater impact:
Never speak or respond first – allow others to first share and offer their thoughts and ideas. To empower others, create the environment where they feel heard and understood.
Never say, “yes, but…” – this is a sure way to shut others down and make it unsafe for them to share. In response, start by saying, “yes, and…”
Be more curious – rather than react by judging what others said, respond with curiosity. Intend to understand rather than be understood.
COMMITMENT
When you are next with your team, practice the 4:1 rule. For every statement you make, ask 4 questions.
Notice how much more is shared and the deeper insights that emerge.
Most important, notice the quality of and commitment to the decisions made.
May you flourish.