What do you pull for in your listening?
Consider – how do you hear your team? Through what filters do you listen to them?
Are they a necessary evil? An interruption? Your best asset? A valued colleague?
Do you listen to them as someone you have to “babysit?” or someone you’re empowering? Or someone who’s empowering you and your organization?
How do you listen to the executive team as compared to your front-line staff?
What would it look like to listen to your entire team the way you listen to your “top brass?”
Would your attention be more focused? Your consideration more sincere? Your intention to follow through backed by more integrity?
Every single person on your team has a perspective. Every single one of them impacts your success and your reputation.
Every single one of them deserves your full presence when you are with them.
When you’re fully present, your listening demonstrates caring and pulls for all-in commitment and participation. Listening with absolute attention tells your team they matter, their contribution matters and their ideas and perspective make a difference.
If you’re distracted, half listening, you’re pulling for apathy.
Check out Culture Works for more on listening, learning and leading. Also available on Amazon.