1. UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE PRECEEDS LEADING THEMLeadership finds its source in understanding. To be worthy of the responsibility of leadership, a person must have insight into the human heart. Sensetivity toward the hopes and dreams of people on your team is essential for connection with them and motivating them.
"Leaders tought a heart before they ask for a hand." - John C. Maxwell
2. LISTENING IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN
Talk show host Larry King said, "I remind myself every morning: nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So, if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.
3. LISTENING CAN KEEP PROBLEMS FROM ESCELATING
A Cherokee proverd says, "Listen to the whispers and you won't have to hear the screams." Good leaders are attentive to small issues. They pay attention to their intuition. And they also pay close attention to waht isn't being said.
4. LISTENING ESTABLISHES TRUST
David Burns, a medical doctor and professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, points out, "The biggest mistake you can make in trying to talk convincingly is to put your high priority on expressing your ideas and feeling. What most people really is to be listend to, respected, and understood. The moment people see that they are being understood, they become more motivated to understand your point of view."
5. LISTENING CAN IMPROVE THE ORGANIZATION
Former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca asserted, "Listening can make the difference between a mediocre company and a great one."
From Leadership Gold
By John C. Maxwell
