Golden Advice on Listening and Getting Input

Former CEO and colleague, Tom Crawford, shares this gold nugget about listening and getting internal input:  

Knowledge is powerful.
Knowledge shared is more powerful.
Knowledge from the people in the company who touch it every day is the most powerful of all.

Wow! Tom is saying that senior leaders need to be listening to the ideas and insights from people at the lower levels. On the surface that seems logical and practical, and it’s so obvious and simple that you would think it’s a “no brainer.” But the higher you go in the organization, the harder it is to “lean down” and listen. It is a consistent consulting point in the work that I do with organizations.

We’re fighting our hard-wired behaviors, and our natural tilt is either results-oriented or relationship-oriented:

For Results-oriented leaders, strategic listening is typically a big challenge. It is contrary to their strengths and emphasizes their struggles.

    – Strengths – Quick to grasp big picture; initiating, want to move quickly to get results

    – Struggles – Can be over-confident in their own opinions and reject others ideas; not naturally good listeners, impatient

For Relationship-oriented leaders, strategic listening is also a challenge but for different reasons. 

    – Strengths – Optimistic, like new ideas; Trusting and supportive of others

    – Struggles – Too optimistic and take on too much, try to do everything at once; too trusting, strong need for approval, may be taken advantage of by others

Please also comment on your ideas, tips, and experience with listening and getting input as a leader – thank you

Read the entire article on this topic – “The Elmer’s Glue of Organizational Development”

 

 

 

 

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