Lee Ellis's Blog, page 288

Thanks to Honorable Leader, Phil, for His Comments on “Listening” – See Inside

Lee Ellis is continuing his leadership message of “Listening” this month.

Thanks to Phil for his comments on this topic – “Very good and interesting article. I totally agree, and I too struggle listening fully. Sometimes want to respond before I should. I am working on the skill to listen completely before talking or adding to the conversation. It is tough. Also, so many people only listen to wait to get their words in, and it is not listening at all, it is just adding garbage to the conversation.”

Check out this month’s article –

Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, December 11, 2015

“There’s no need to be perfect to inspire others. Let people get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.” – Unknown

Fill in the Blank – “As a leader, the best gift that my team can give me this year is _____________________.”

Fill-in-the-Blank – “As a leader, the best gift that my team can give me this year is _____________________.”

Please share your answers in this blog post – thank you!

How to Avoid Career Blindspots – 6 Things to Remember

Hundreds of leaders have viewed this SlideShare presentation entitled – “How to Avoid Career Blindspots – 6 Things to Remember”.

As you cruise into the new year, please read and share your favorite blindspot on this list –

The Strategic Outcome of Listening – Leadership Tip

Lee Ellis is continuing his leadership message of “Listening” this month. Thanks to Phil for his comments on this topic – “Very good and interesting article. I totally agree, and I too struggle listening fully. Sometimes want to respond before I should. I am working on the skill to listen completely before talking or adding to the conversation. It is tough. Also, so many people only listen to wait to get their words in, and it is not listening at all, it is just adding garbage to the conversation.”

Check out this month’s article, and we hope that it’s helpful. Please share your comments and experience in this post, too –

 

On This Day in Leadership History, December 6, 2015

On this day in leadership history in 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The amendment abolished slavery in the U.S. One-hundred fifty years later, this strategic decision is still being fulfilled in the minds, hearts, and attitudes of people throughout our nation. What’s the leadership lesson? Once a strategic decision has been made, stay patient, consistent, and focused as the vision/strategy is being implemented.

The 13th Amendment – Wikipedia

The Edmonson Sisters Sculpture – Wikipedia

 

Getting Results in Your Work During the Holidays Can Be Challenging – See Help Inside

Getting results in your work during the holidays can be challenging! With good communication, you’re in a much better position for success.

Please Download the complimentary Courage Challenge Card from Leading with Honor, and see how it can help you –

Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, December 4, 2015

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“Trust is the hinge point of leadership—when it goes up, your credibility goes up; when it goes down, your influence drops like a rock.” – Lee Ellis

Leadership Gift-Giving Pressure and The Value of Listening

You may be feeling the pressure of the gift-giving season. How can you make your gift meaningful? What do you give the person who has everything? As you plan your giving, I have the perfect gift suggestion; it’s costly and valuable, but you don’t have to spend any money on it.

My Confession

Before I share the gift idea with you, it’s time for a year-end confession. I’m not naturally a good listener; I have several personality challenges that undermine this area for me. My natural Leadership Behavior DNA struggles include being impatient, taking charge too quickly, and at times I can be too confident in my own opinions—all of which threaten my ability to be a good listener.

A few years ago I made a commitment to become a better listener at home with my wife Mary because we had transitioned into being empty-nesters. It was quite a challenge for me, but today Mary would say that I’m a much better listener. It has greatly improved our communication and relationship.

But listening is not just a gift for family relationships, it’s also the most powerful skill that leaders can master with their team members.

The Valuable Gift Revealed

You’ve likely figured out my gift recommendation—it’s the gift of listening. Listening is a powerful gift that enriches and blesses both the recipient and the giver.

Choosing to listen is easy when it’s obviously beneficial for us, but to focus and listen when it’s needed (and we don’t want to listen) requires great effort and sacrifice. It can even feel like suffering!

Over the past fifteen years, I’ve surveyed hundreds of leaders and managers asking them to identify the one key attribute of their greatest leader that made them such an exceptional leader (we ask them to exclude integrity and diligence, which are assumed pre-requisites).

Can you guess the number one answer by a significant margin? “They listened to me.”

Whether it’s a leader naturally skewed towards relationships or results, successful, honorable leaders learn how to listen. Listening is strategically important for two reasons –

It provides clarity which is essential for good execution, accountability, and results.
It builds strong relationships and trust because it makes people feel respected, valued, and important—some of our deepest personal needs as human beings.

<<Watch Lee’s Leading with Honor Coaching clip on the skill of listening.

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Musical Listening Tips

Informal photos from Lee and Mary’s trip to New York City.

For our anniversary last year, I took Mary to New York City. It was a fabulous experience and was enriched when we were invited to a holiday party by client and friend Tom Fuller. At Tom’s party I struck up a conversation with a most interesting fellow named Harry Glantz, and we somehow got into the subject of listening. Harry serves as the VP/HR for a company in New York, but he started his career as a professional trumpet player.

In our short conversation, Harry shared five music-related insights on listening that have served him in life and career. Listen closely, as they could be music to your ears too –

1. Multi-Task to Be a Good Listener. Good listening does take focus, but a good listener also has to multi-task. In an orchestra, it’s not good enough to play; you have to hear the music of others and blend with them. Listen to all of the moving parts to get the meaning of the conversation rather than just playing your notes.

2. Intonation—You Have to Play in Tune. An A note is pitched (tuned) at 440 Hz, or it grinds on you. Think of some political leaders who are never on the same page in their conversations because they’re not listening to each other. Being in tune verbally is mastering not only what’s being said, but the tone so that you can respond with some degree of resonance.

3. Find the Rhythm. Listening is waiting for the right moment to contribute to the conversation. If everyone in the orchestra played whenever they felt like it, the sound would be confusing and irritating!

4. Be Creative in Your Response. Listening closely allows you to be more creative and relevant in the conversation. You’ll be smarter if you listen first, engage your brain, and then analyze your response smartly.

5. Practice Listening. Musicians practice for hours, and good listeners need practice too. One way to practice is “listening” in a wide variety of situations, even while reading emails. If you have a question in these scenarios, practice asking a clarifying question and then listen.

Generational Listening

In a recent blog, Harry also pointed out the need for intergenerational listening. Millennials and younger generations have unique technology and cultural insights that older generations need to understand. Regardless of age or experience, listening must be reciprocal. We all need to listen, but unfortunately we still have a few leaders who are tone deaf. They likely won’t hear this message, but let’s not be like them.

The gift of listening requires sacrificial humility, courage, commitment, and lots of practice. But if you make this effort, your suffering will be rewarded in better relationships and better outcomes at home and at work. Happy Holidays.

LE

 

Want a snapshot of your leadership strengths and struggles that Lee mentioned in the article? Start by taking your free, personalized Leading with Honor Report.

 

Humility in Leadership

We seem to recognize good leaders inherently when we are in the ir presence, yet they are not built the same. Some leaders are introverts. Others are extroverts. Some speak a lot, outlining in great detail their vision and strategies. 

Regardless of your natural leadership quality, here are some tips for leading with humility and a servant’s attitude.

Click to read, and please share.