You Don’t Know It All
Listening is really a state of humility. You are acknowledging you don’t know it all—you have something to learn from someone else. It is a core characteristic of a servant leader. In Stephen M. R. Covey’s book, The Speed of Trust, he says that “smart leaders recognize the power of Listen First, particularly as it relates to coworkers and internal customers. If they don’t, they cheat themselves and the company out of the information, feedback, innovation, collaboration, and partnering inherent in a high-trust environment and vital to success in today’s global economy.”
I once saw a plaque on the wall of another leader. It said simply, “Listen—It’s Your Job.” Leaders of teams, organizations, and even countries could use such advice. What would have happened in the city of Troy if the Greeks and the Trojans had sat down together and listened to one another? Could the Trojan horse have been entirely transformed from a counterfeit gift to a true gift of peace?
Norm Augustine, Former Chairman of Lockheed Martin, said, “We’ve all heard the criticism ‘he talks too much.’ When was the last time you heard someone criticized for listening too much?” My experience taught me that leaders must actively engage in and even force conversations where they can listen. Remember the old axiom, nothing fails like success? When you think all is well, think again and start listening. What you hear will amaze you.
