BEHAVIOR #11: LISTEN FIRST (pp. 208 - 214)

Try this: Think back over your interactions with others during the past week, both at work and at home.  Think of a time when you did Listen First. How was that experience? What were the results? Now, think about a time when you spoke or responded without deeply listening (or understanding). How was that, comparatively? Do you even have any examples to compare?

"If there is any great secret of success in life, it lies in the ability to put yourself in the other person's place and to see things from his point of view." ~ Henry Ford

We're all very familiar with the advice to 'listen' (or actively listen, listen well, etc. as a leadership skill). Why the repeated emphasis on listening?

Understanding - Leadership ultimately means understanding people,
Respect - and then respecting them,
Mutual Benefit - and then trying to find a negotiated action that benefits both interests

Those are three pretty good reasons, I think.

I'm afraid the performance-driven, fast-paced, hamster wheel that we tend to be running on inhibits this sound but difficult piece of advice.

Challenge yourself - even today - to slow down to deeply listen in one conversation - asking clarify questions, mirroring back or asking for more information - before responding. Notice the difference.