— To follow is a bullet of wisdom on leadership. It comes from Tom’s rifle, named Shot, who has seen it all. You’ll get the drift by clicking Blog in the menu above. —
YIKES…something with all-consuming force, and present, yet unseen. As a rifle, I am hardly concealed, and, frankly, I’m not much for hiding deadly force. But I recognize guns as tools with power, even if not seen. And I recognize that they can have advantages because they are inconspicuous.
Now, leaders, I introduce you to a force that is powerful but hardly visible. It’s the power of listening. Hold on. I know you’ve heard about listening before, but what if you could listen in ways that energize others, even getting them to solve their own problems? When people feel understood, they are empowered. When people deeply think because they are listened to, they think through their problems: identifying primary objectives, dealing with the real issues, generating viable options, and pursuing a path forward. That’s power, and it comes from listening…listening well, that is. Stay tuned. (I’m going to share more ideas as stimulated by Nancy Kline’s book Time to Think—Listening to Ignite the Human Mind.)