Posted on Thu, Apr 01, 2010 @ 11:48 AM
Responsible and effective leadership requires at its very core, an enormous capacity to actively and intently listen with ears, eyes, mind and heart. In Peggy Noonan's article, "
The Heat Is On. We May Get Burned" in the WSJ Weekend Edition (March 27-28, 2010), she quotes a comment to Steny Hoyer's news story in Yahoo, "...people are frustrated over not being heard...." Although the context of the comment is around finger pointing, reprisals and threats to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle,
the real issue in my view is that there is a basic and contagious listening deficiency. And it doesn't just apply to politics.
Leaders must find ways to get a sense of the whole picture and listen for meaning, not just listen to what is said. It's not about who is right or wrong, rather it is about identifying the real issue, asking the right questions and working with others to create a common pool of meaning to achieve more complete understanding, and work toward a solution that has win-win results. The views and influence of advisors, the media, colleagues and organizations of all types that deliver information through their own filters shape what and how we hear things. Effective leaders overcome listening deficiencies by balancing information as delivered by others with their own unfiltered due-diligence.
Does it take more work and time to overcome a listening deficiency? You bet it does - at least initially. It takes willingness and effort to get closer to the real issue. A good way to get there is by asking thoughtful questions that pave the way to a better understanding of what is driving the issue. It requires actively tuning into the content (the information) and the context. And most importantly, it takes seeing and considering other points of view.
Effective leaders manage the process well. They understand that there is a lot of noise in the air and that it takes effort to constantly cut through the clutter. They place a great deal of value in other credible views and they listen for the underlying meaning of what is really being said.
What do you think? What else can leaders do to become more effective listeners? Please comment below.