The secret to becoming a great leader
10th February 2012
It may be a bold title for an article, but the secret to being a great leader is simple yet surprising – listening. Responsive communication is the key to good relationships with both employees and clients and can be the difference between an average leader (and therefore an average business) and a great one.
Anyone who wants to reach the highest level in his or her career can only do so through effective listening. A good listener will get the best out of people by understanding who they are, where they want to be, why they’re there, how they think and what they can contribute.
Leaders frequently make the mistake of believing that talking is more important than listening, but the most successful individuals have learnt that listening first and talking later is what got them where they are. The good news is that these skills can be learnt and developed and once done correctly, the benefits are more valuable than people realise.
How to be a good listener
- Concentrate solely on the speaker and what they are saying. If it’s a private meeting go to a quiet room where there are no distractions and give the person your full attention.
- Give visual encouragement. When your subject is speaking, look them in the eye and encourage them by nodding your head. This shows that you are listening, have respect for them, want to hear what they are saying and are taking their points on board.
- Don’t interrupt. Trying to talk over somebody gives the impression that you’re only interested in what you have to say. Not only does this come across as rude, but also people are unlikely to approach you next time under the assumption that you don’t want their opinion.
- Take notes. This shows that you value what the person is saying and want to remember the points they are making.
- At the end of your conversation, relay back to your subject any particularly important or interesting facts they brought up, proving that you were listening closely.
- Not to contradict the above, you also need to know when to stop listening and to deploy an element of selective listening. Good leaders know how to listen and extract good information from people, but also when it is time to stop listening and to act.
The benefits of being a good listener
Learning how to listen can effectively help you in both your private and professional life. Firstly, it increases your knowledge. The more you hear, the more you learn. A leader who is well informed will always have the respect of others.
Listening effectively means that you are narrowing any gaps in communication. This leads to fewer misunderstandings, disappointments and broken relationships, both internally and externally. A business that has employees who can communicate with each other will operate smoothly and efficiently because everyone knows what is going on at all times. The knock-on effect to clients is therefore positive.
To be a good leader you must be able to not only think about yourself, but also understand and learn from the thinking of others. This undoubtedly improves interpersonal relationships and you are likely to become the kind of leader that your employees respect, value and want to work with. So, listen up.
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