Listen up...

Whatever you do, learn to be a good listener. Because more is gained from listening than talking.

 

·      Talking

·      Makes you feel good.

·      Listening

·      Makes you smarter.

 

Leaders spend much of their day interacting with people, talking, and listening. Thinking their primary role is to talk to their employees. But over the years I learned more from listening than talking. And I found that most managers spend too much time talking – providing information, giving instructions, telling how to do one thing or another, and following up… over and over. The best communications, however, are two-way, meaning you listen too. In fact, you should listen more than talk. Listen to others tell you what they think you said, listen to their questions, listen to their feedback, and listen to their suggestions. And when their comments dwindle, ask them to tell you more. In general, people like to talk. But as a leader, you should discipline yourself to listen more than you talk. Your peeps will be more engaged and feel better about themselves. That’s how they learn and grow. Spend most of your time listening today.

 

Christopher Morley (1890 – 1957): American journalist, novelist, essayist, poet, stage producer, and college lecturer.