Leading by Listening
As small business owners, we are sometimes guilty of talking too much or dominating every business meeting. We might be carried away by our passion to delight our customers, or even frustration about our current business performance.
But do you know that listening is a good management style as well as a strong motivator to your employees? Leading by listening is a not new concept although it is not a common practice.
In fact, the 7th rule among the ten rules that worked for Sam Walton, founder of retailing giant Wal-Mart, is about listening to everyone and finding ways to get to talk.
The folks on the front lines — the ones who actually talk to the customer — are the only ones who really know what’s going on out there. You’d better find out what they know. This really is what total quality is all about. To push responsibility down in your organization, and to force good ideas to bubble up within it, you must listen to what your associates are trying to tell you.
So the next time you feel like talking, shut up and listen to what your partners or employees have to say. For starters, check out Tyner Blain’s post about ten active listening skills.
