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Mary Walker

Listening and Leadership
October 31, 2007

Leadership is a popular topic today. Every organization needs leaders, who can rise to the challenge. They must be able to lead people with purpose and confidence. Leaders are:

• Bold
• Risk-takers
• Planners          
• Inspiring
• Courageous
• Listeners
• Decisive
• Visionaries
• Passionate
• Motivators
• Organizers
• Critical thinker

One thing I think should be included in the list is a good communicator. To be a leader you must be a good communicator, on a one to one basis, and also to a group or audience.

Leaders must be respected by whom they are trying to lead. If a leader is not well thought of with the group, he will not be followed.

Listening is an important leadership skill. Through good listening skills you acquire information, enabling you to identify and clarify issues, make decisions, resolve conflict and be creative. One of the Presidents of Briggs-Weaver used to come over and talk to me every evening after work. My boss claimed he was just trying to get information.

Perhaps this was true, however he listened.

A leader’s listening skills play a major role in team building. If the leader is not listening, the team falls apart. Leaders must connect with their teams, showing concern for them and their work. Most people like to talk but they want to know someone is listening. This brings trust and respect and the team will perform to the best of their abilities.

We must develop and practice listening skills. We are a generation of multi-tasking; however this prevents us from being the best listener possible. It is important to listen when someone takes the time to talk to us

Posted by Mary Walker on October 31, 2007 | Comments (0)