Leaders & Listening – Jason Hirsch

The longer I lead the more I realize how important it is to listen to people.  I have certain people who I call my advisors. I do not even know if they know that they advise me?:) They do, and I appreciate all of them.  There is wisdom in having advisors.  Solomon said “There is wisdom in council.”  Proverbs 4:7

Here are few things I have been learning as a listening leader:

1.  What and who you listen to will determine what you do.  That is huge!  If you are listening to the wrong people it may very well sabotage your influence at any level.

2.  Create a system of listening to the right people.  My system is a scale of 1-10.  Is the decision I am making a 1?  Then probably advice is not going to be necessary.  Is it an 8?  At that point I am on the phone, or sitting in a meeting asking for advice.  I have learned to rate my decisions, and determine whether I should be seeking council.  Note:  Yes, I do pray over my decisions as well.  Note:  My system has worked nearly 9 out of 10 times.  ”Wisdom sought out compounds, and therefore gives you a much better chance for a successful outcome.”   Note:  Your decisions will always be judged by someone internally and externally.  Ugly truth!!

3.   I think good leaders at all levels are attracted to environments where their ideas and opinions are heard.  I would never stay in any organization where I was given no voice!!! That does not mean that everybody has to implement what I say or vice versa.  But for me, or someone else to know that their opinion, idea, thought, etc….matters, will definitely help an organization become one where people have ownership/stock in it.  The more ownership, the more production!!!

4.   You do not need to be the number one person in your organization to be heard.  In most places where I have worked, I have sat in the 3rd or 4th chair.  I was still heard, and that is what made the environment a place I was willing to stay and work.

5.   I have found that most leaders want to influence their own destinies.  That is why their voice is so important.

6.   Leaders who do not listen, will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing important to say.  That will put the organization on a declining growth curve.  No leaders? No growth at all levels!!

Questions:  Are you in an organization whether secular or church related that listens?  If not, what could you do to change that?  Are you a leader that listens?  If not, why not? What can you do to change that?  Have you surrounded yourself with people who have nothing to say?  Maybe it is because you have removed their voices!!

Good leaders create a system of listening.  They also create a system of listening to the right people.