I'm Listening

How many of you remember the show “Frasier”. It starred Kelsey Grammer as a radio psychologist doling out advice over the airwaves. His phrase when people would call up his radio show was “I’m listening”. Leaders should take this advice and use that phrase as a way to better understand the needs of their followers.

I am focusing on listening over the next several days. It is a skill that all leaders should embrace and improve upon if it is a weakness. Listening helps leaders better understand needs and then can react to meet the needs of their followers.

If you take Dr. Frasier Crane’s advice as a leader and say “I’m listening” I think you will find that your followers will open up and will want to follow your vision. Here are some things to do to make sure that you are listening.

• Hold a one on one meeting with your followers and let them do the talking.
• Ask for input about how things are done and if the suggestions are reasonable implement some of them.
• Show you care by thanking them for a job well done and rewarding them if possible.
• Get to know them personally then during the day you can always ask them about things you remember about them.

If you do these things it will tell your followers that you are listening and that what they say does make a difference. Far too often leaders get caught up in their own vision and fail to see the bigger picture and the impact it has on those around them. From now on make “I’m listening” your leadership motto.