As a leader, you have a tremendous opportunity to utilize one of the innate qualities you’ve been equipped with since birth – you have two ears (and only one mouth…).
I’ve always had genuine trust in my team members. I believe that employees see and think for themselves, often identifying issues that need correction. Starting from this standpoint, I’ve discovered immense power in keeping my ear to the ground and deeply understanding the state of affairs within the organization. I often say that a poorly functioning organization “buzzes,” meaning there’s a frustration within the company indicating something isn’t right.
It’s the role of a leader to identify this “buzz” and contribute to solving the root problem. I tend to see myself as a “problem magnet” – tell me what’s not working, and let’s try to address it…
Being a leader entails significant responsibility – take it 100% seriously. As a leader, you got such massive impact on the well-being of your employees. You don’t have the luxury of shrugging off problems; it’s your duty to contribute to fix what’s not working!
The value of being a good listener
