The One Best Quality of a Leader
DH | Mar 03, 2009 | Comments 9
While doing many media interviews over the last few weeks about my new book, The Media Savvy Leader, there’s one question that is nearly always asked:
What one single quality distinguishes a good leader in today’s world?
My answer, based on research for my book and my own experience, is always the same – the ability to listen.
If there is a common thread between today’s outstanding leaders – from President Obama to Zappo’s CEO Tony Hsieh – it is the ability to listen. Listen to staff, listen to customers, listen to audiences, listen to the media. Just listen. They rarely act without first listening.
It makes me wonder about the CEOs of the Big Three troubled automakers. They appear to be only in sell mode, and not listeners. Or, the CEOs of the big financial and insurance companies that are now falling like dominos. Did they listen to anyone? I suspect that hubris got in the way of listening.
The subject of listening also reminds me of the worse boss I ever had. It was after I sold my PR agency and had gone to work for a global manufacturing company as head of worldwide communications. The CEO there never listened. His favorite phrase was, “I’m on transmit; you’re on receive,” which meant he didn’t want anyone to respond to his orders, just obey him … or else. You may have met one of those guys.
He fancied himself like a Top Gun ace, complete with large photo of a fighter jet on his office wall. He labeled staff meetings, “Roll-Downs,” because, he said, “s**t always rolls down the hill.” He never listened.
I suspect there are a lot of CEOs similar to him still in corner offices. They may have fooled a board of directors into hiring them for a big salary package, but they are not, however, leaders.
Filed Under: Featured • Leadership • Leadership Principles
Wow, that’s quite a boss you had. Transmit/receive.
Listening can not be over stated.
Thanks,
How could anyone work with a boss like that? What a fool!
Great Post David!
I had a similar experience at my last job. As a CAD designer, I had a project manager, with a history as a military mechanic with incredible organizational skills, who only wanted the engineers to realize his thoughts. Whenever the engineers would design anything, he would modify it. This was two years ago, and they are still fixing problems caused by his ignorance. It was my experience with him that made me decide to go on into management, to inspire creativity and cohesiveness in our workforce through effective leadership. An effective leader is also an effective follower! Regardless of tools and capital at hand, there is no more valuable resource than those you work with and their knowledge and input.
Great post!
It seems so simple, yet many of us struggle to really listen to what others have to say. I’ve noticed that through several projects inside and outside of the classroom – those who listen to each other are the most successful and the most pleased with their progress. It’s so much easier to think when you’re processing what others have to say, too – not just what’s bouncing around in your mind.
Barney,
I actually watched this CEO fly into a rage during a manager’s meeting and fire someone. He was despised and feared.
dh
You have not lived until you are pulled into a company needing your skills for crisis areas, and then realize who the real crisis is, and that it will never end..
“Lead, Follow, or get out of the Way,” well, they are getting some leaders out of the way now. Yes, it has been an interesting recession this time around, not just for downsizing efforts of stock margins to move the boomers out before pensions begin. Some major areas of bailout still, and probably never, will be disclosed. Rumors are true..
It never fails to amaze me the amount of “leaders” that don’t listen. Do they forget where they came from? Do they forget that if no-one had listened to them, they wouldn’t be where they are today?
I have my own PR agency and I use interns, and I make sure that every single one knows to come to me with their ideas. Just because I’m “the boss” doesn’t mean I know everything.
Open your ears and be willing to listen if you really want to succeed. If you don’t, you can be sure your competitors are.
It’s always interesting how someone becomes a leader with the “two ears-one mouth” anatomy reversed.
I suspect the hubris you (rightfully) speak of stems from an egotistically driven conception of weakness. Meaning, if you aren’t the one talking, you aren’t as smart, you aren’t the one with the answer, you’re the nail and not the hammer sort of mentality. Thanks so much for your perspective on this. It’s a great sanity check.