Great Leaders Are Great Listeners

Great leaders are great listeners.

Being a leader should not be viewed as a license to increase the volume of rhetoric. Astute leaders know there is far more to be gained by surrendering the floor than by dominating it. Show me a leader who doesn’t recognize the value of listening to others, and I’ll show you a train-wreck in the making.

According to Mark Graban, I’ve heard leaders complain that “my employees won’t speak up.” Instead of labeling them as bad or uncaring employees, these same leaders should maybe look in the mirror and ask themselves how their people ended up that way.

Listening is a core aspect of what Toyota calls “Respect for People?” but many people in leadership positions don’t listen; they may be hearing, but they are not listening. While some may be impressed with how well you speak, the right people will be impressed with how well you listen.