In the old days the "command and control"
model of leadership ruled supreme.
Leaders were expected to have all the answers — or at
least to look and act as if they had all the answers.
Leaders had a goal and a strategy for accomplishing it.
All they had to do was figure out how to get others to
fall into line behind them. They wanted followers, not
collaborators, compliance, not creativity. They did a lot
of talking and not much listening.
But today's workplace demands a more flexible, more
collaborative model of leadership.
"In the high
tech, globally wired, digital world we live in…[l]eaders
who can release the brain power of their staff, who can
energize the know-how and creativity of their work
force, are the only ones who can be sure to be in the
phone book within two years."
- Warren Bennis
Today's leaders don't have all the answers. (How can
they?) But they know how to find the answers and, more
importantly, they know how to help others find the
answers.
Leaders today are listeners. They listen up, down, and
all around their organization. They listen in order to:
- Pick up on problems before they get out of hand
- Uncover the causes of miscommunication and conflict
- Understand people's motives, values, and feelings
- Build rapport and mutual respect
- Discover trends that drive the way business gets
done
- Gather and evaluate ideas
- Generate solutions
The kind of listening that leaders do requires a new
mindset — a combination of humility ("I don't know
everything") and confidence ("I'm smart enough
to learn"). It brings out the best in other people,
recognizing and valuing their experience. And it creates
the kind of collaboration and energy that drives a winning
organization.
Chris Witt is an executive
speech coach
who works with executives and business leaders who want to
improve their presentation skills. He believe that one one
of the best ways to improve how you speak is to improve
the quality of your listening. Witt Communications, based
in San Diego, offers speeches
and programs to help executives speak more effectively.
For more information about how you might benefit, contact
us.
