What do The Others Think?
I’ve done a few posts recently about leadership and listening, specifically about how the latter enhances the former. Today’s post is going to take this a little further. As a leader, I want you to consider how good you are at entertaining the ideas of others.
When it comes to leading effectively, you know by now (at least you do if you’ve been reading these posts!) that effective listening is integral to phenomenal leadership. Listening in and of itself, however, isn’t enough. You’ve got to be willing to entertain the ideas of others, entertain the possibility that you might be wrong, and entertain the notion that “their” ideas may be more merit-filled than your own. In fact, the ideas that are out there in the brains of others, may often hold the best solutions to whatever problem you’re facing in any given moment.
To be an effective leader, it behooves you to ask the question, “what do you think?” at least as often as you put forward your own ideas. Furthermore, asking the question requires you to pay attention to the answer. Really pay attention. Hold the answer with respect and understand that you do not have the best answers all the time. You may have the best answers some of the time; and so might others.
Bottom-line: the best leaders are not only willing to listen to others, they’re willing to entertain the ideas of others and even implement those ideas from time-to-time. As a great leader you understand that the world does not revolve around you. This is another hallmark of great leadership
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