https://www.fapjunk.com https://pornohit.net london escort london escorts buy instagram followers buy tiktok followers Ankara Escort Cialis Cialis 20 Mg
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Home Leaders Competencies Great Leaders Are Great Observers

Great Leaders Are Great Observers

This is Part 1 in a series on Listening

Over my life, I’ve been fortunate to work with many leaders who are older and wiser.  Sometimes when people have that much experience, they’re tempted to be “advice dispensers” – to always need to educate, direct, and caution everyone around them.

But many of the leaders I’ve known aren’t too quick to speak, despite their many years of life.  They have a quiet confidence about them, and an inner security in who they are.  They look at the people and world around them with curiosity, and they listen more than they talk.  I admire them for this.

This isn’t just about age, of course.  In leadership, I’ve noticed that as people advance through the ranks of positional leadership, there’s a temptation to talk more and listen less.  I know, because I’ve led national teams and I found myself drawn into the same pattern – I’m the one who has the knowledge and experience, so it’s my responsibility to dispense that to others.  I’m the one who has worked my way through the ranks, so I should be leading the meetings and setting the agendas.

When we have a lot to say and contribute, it can be very frustrating to dial things back and listen to other people.  It takes restraint and discipline.  However, I see “becoming a good listener” as a unique opportunity to grow in ways that can make us into exceptional leaders.

Listening allows us to observe more.

It’s kind of a simple rule, really.  The more we talk, the less we notice.  Actor Bryan Cranston once remarked that he doesn’t like public attention … not because people bother him, but because he likes to be “in observation mode.”  His job as an actor requires him to notice the nuances of how people react to various situations, and so his best times of preparation are when he can “take in” details by observing others.  If people were to recognize Cranston, he understands that he would be forced to perform, rather than learn.

This is a great principle for leaders as well.  If we’re constantly focused on “dispensing,” whether through public speaking or trying to get a word in during meetings, we’re quite limited in our ability to “take in” things that are happening around us.

So here’s one practical idea – take written notes The next time you’re in a meeting, bring a notepad and focus on writing down what you’re hearing the other people say.  You can also write down your own observations, questions, and thoughts, but focus on “taking things in.”

Sometimes leaders prefer not to take notes because they prefer to talk, but that’s exactly where we miss a golden opportunity.  The more we talk, the less we notice.  If you’re supposed to lead a meeting, try stepping back one time and offering to take notes.  Give someone else a chance to facilitate the meeting.  Focus on observing, and see how much more you’re able to notice when you’re not dispensing information.

It might change the way you lead, and develop some skills that can take you to the next level.

In college, I took a class where we studied various religions, and one of my assignments was to take a “vow of silence” for two days.  I couldn’t say a single word, but had to try to communicate in other ways.  Needless to say, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.  I still remember sitting silently at lunch with a friend, who probably wondered what was wrong with me, because all I did was nod and smile at him.

On the other hand, my friend shared a lot about himself, and probably thought I was a decent listener by the end of our meal.  By the end of the second day of my assignment, I was amazed by how much my perspective had changed.  I noticed so much more than before – nonverbal communication patterns, social group dynamics, and even my own emotional reactions to the people around me.  All I needed was to get out of my own way, to get the mental space to take in all that was happening, and why.

Listening is not always a “fun” skill, especially when we’re in a meeting where everyone’s fighting to get in their word or opinion, and we fear getting left behind.  But listening can be a game changer: when everyone else is speaking, sometimes the best way to differentiate ourselves is to speak less, not more.

Of course, we have to be careful that we don’t mistake listening for passivity, or fear of putting ourselves forward.  Instead, we listen with intentionality and thoughtfulness – whether by taking notes, repeating what we’ve heard others say, or asking good questions.

We listen carefully in order to gain an even more complete picture of people and situations … so we can become even more in touch with the realities around us.

Speak more, and we’ll observe less.  Speak less, and we’ll notice the world around us more.

Adrian Pei
Adrian Peihttp://www.adrianpei.com/category/blog/
Adrian's passion is to make leadership connections about topics that matter. His current job is to oversee leadership training and content development for an Asian American ministry organization. Adrian consults, writes, speaks, and designs content. He loves innovating, collaborating, and seeing a project through from start to finish. Adrian graduated with degrees from Stanford University and Fuller Seminary and lives with his family in sunny southern California.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Eminem – Stronger Than I Was

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we...

Dj Dark – Chill Vibes

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we...

Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love (Dj Dark & Adrian Funk Remix)

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we...

Silicon Valley Guru Affected by the Fulminant Slashed Investments

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we...

Recent Comments

Ngallendou Dièye on Navigating the Wave of Need
subash on 3 Kinds of Leaders
Ngallendou Dièye on 3 Kinds of Leaders
Eric Richardson on 3 Kinds of Leaders
Malcolm Webber on 3 Kinds of Leaders
Ngallendou Dièye on Our Evangelical Cover-Up?
Mark Larson on Is Competition Wrong?
betty-wiseheartedwomen.blogspo on Is Evangelical Worship Headed for a Huge Crash?
Ngallendou Dièye on 3 Fears that Paralyze Potential
Mwesigye Batatwenda Peterson on Pain
Mwesigye Batatwenda Peterson on 5 Reasons We Struggle to Rest
Michelle Chiappelli Zvyagin on Is Evangelical Worship Headed for a Huge Crash?
Ngallendou Dièye on Why Jesus Let People Walk Away
Jim Sutherland on How to Help Someone Not Change
Ngallendou Dièye on How to Help Someone Not Change
Ngallendou Dièye on Alone in a Crowd
Nancy Watta on Leaders Act!
Dr George Varghese on The Weapon of a Clear Conscience
Ngallendou Dièye on 10 Ways To Lose Great Staff
Ngallendou Dièye on Christian Celebrity Culture
Ngallendou Dièye on What NOT to Say to Someone in Pain
Joel Loewen on How to be Patient
Ngallendou Dièye on A Bit of Advice on Giving Advice
Malcolm Webber on 7 Key Paradigm Shifts
Malcolm Webber on 7 Key Paradigm Shifts
Ngallendou Dièye on 7 Key Paradigm Shifts
Ngallendou Dièye on Leaders Act!
Elisha kakwerere on 10 Reasons Leaders Stop Growing
Ngallendou on The Idolatry of Missions
Kyla Alexander on The Idolatry of Missions
Edgard Abraham Alvarez Muñoz on Little Church, Big Mission
James Ruark on A Church Led By Scholars
Ngallendou on A Church Led By Scholars
Bill Blatz on A Church Led By Scholars
Bill Frisbie on Who Stole My Towel?
niklaseklov on Who Stole My Towel?
Malcolm Webber on We Need to Learn Empathy!
Hansraj Jain on Honoring Your Predecessor