Dr. Doolittle not only could speak to animals, he could listen to them. He understood that being a good leader meant being a good listener. That being king of the jungle was not based on how loud you roar.
To lead effectively, you must become a great listener. You also must create an environment where others feel safe to share information – the very information you desperately need. The good news is that being a good listener is an acquired skill. You can improve. And the simple, consistent display of good listening skills can play a large part in establishing the culture you desire. So let’s take a moment to improve our listening skills. Let’s do it through the eyes and ears of Dr. Doolittle.
Choose to Listen: Rabbits can hear twice as much as humans. Listening is key to their survival. Do they take their gift for granted? No, they keep their ears up like sonars. The first key to effective listening is simple: choose to listen and learn. If we want to survive in our spheres of influence, and thrive, we must choose to listen.
Get in Position: Have you ever watched Labradors listen (and look) for birds? Whether sitting or standing, they get their entire body in position to listen and look with intent. You should do the same. Get your entire body in position to hear. Signal with your body that you are listening with great interest.
Sustain Eye Contact: Have you ever watched a cheetah hunt? Their eyes never leave their prey. They may crouch in tall grass, but wherever their prey goes, so do their big cat eyes. Do the same. Eye contact speaks volumes. It shows respect, helps you keep focused (listening), and is a sign of high self-esteem.
Provide Constant Reassurance: Chimpanzees nod and make noises as they communicate with one another. You, too, need to nod in affirmation and say “uh huh,” and “okay” to constantly show your attentiveness. These simple gestures encourage our colleagues to keep talking and lets them know we are active listeners. Jumping on the furniture and throwing bananas isn’t necessary.
Repeat and Affirm: The ultimate affirmation that you are listening and understanding is to be like a parrot. That is, summarize what you’ve heard. Great listeners provide verbal summaries as their colleagues speak. Example: “So I hear you say …” or “If I understand correctly, you mean…”
Research shows that 93% of communication occurs nonverbally. Even so, humans seem to overuse their unique ability to communicate through words. Steven Covey calls it “dialogue of the deaf.” Comic Steven Wright captures the concept in his line: “My mechanic told me, ‘I couldn’t repair your brakes so I made your horn louder.’”
Want to become a better leader? Boss? Friend? Improve your listening skills. Listen like the rabbit, Labrador, cheetah, chimp or parrot.
Chris Zervas of Summit Solution Group contributed his communications expertise
to this article. You can reach him at chris@summitsolutiongroup.com.
This article originally appeared in The Business Owner Journal, the periodical of choice for owners of small and midsize private businesses. All rights reserved, D.L. Perkins LLC. © 2012.
This publication is intended to provide general information on the subject matters covered. It is sold and distributed with the understanding that neither the publisher nor any distributor or advertiser is engaged in providing legal, tax, insurance, investment or other professional advice. The advice of a qualified professional should be sought before any reader applies a concept presented herein to his or her particular situation or business.
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