How good are you at Active Listening? Studies have shown us throughout history that the best leaders were amazing at Active Listening!
The first thing we have to do is to "Know Yourself to Lead Yourself before Leading Others."
We have to know ourselves and our tendencies and what are our own personal tendencies and default communication styles or codes. The slide below gives us a visual tool to assist us with understanding ourselves first, before we can ever expect to lead others. And yes, this includes the action of Active Listening.
This tool allows us to:
Establish a simple, repeatable framework for growth - it also helps teach others how to process leadership issues
Define a common standard for self-awareness and how to use it to lead yourself more effectively.
Clearly and objectively discuss how issues affect the health and productivity of others.
The loop is infinite because it never stops: "We never graduate for the school of self-awareness."
Tendencies don't change. We have to be intentional to intercept our tendencies and create healthier Patterns of Actions: that's where you go from "Good to Great."
The term "Consequences" can be positive or negative results of Actions.
Here is a little test regarding Active Listening:
Rate yourself from (1-10 (Best) with 50 being the perfect score). The questions below are about how you actively listen.
Taking the time to truly listen?
Asking open ended questions to draw out what others are actually saying?
Summarizing what you have heard to ensure it is correct?
Using body language to communicate interest and attentiveness?
Resisting the temptation to jump right in to assume you know what they are trying to say?
Next, if you are brave enough, ask someone close to you to use the same questions and rate You. This will provide you insight on the difference between what you want to hear versus what you need to hear. How good am I at active listening? And how good are they at active listening?
Key points to Always understand about Active Listening:
Perception is always reality.
Intention is perceived
Communication is the Key to True Leadership
If you fail in your attempts, don't lose faith in the process. Just do a Communication reboot, hit the reverse button, apologize, and start over again with a better understanding of your own Communication Code tendencies and how it interacts with others abilities to receive it. If you would like to learn more about what the communication code is, please reach out directly to me through the website and we can discuss further.
We must All strive to get to the understanding of this principle:
"Seek to Understand before Seeking to be Understood!"
Thank you for your time and I hope this helps someone out there. We have changed our website to clarify the services we can provide. These include Leadership & Mentoring programs for ALL ages and backgrounds. Check out our website for other blogs and fill out the form to receive more information or just to stay connected. If you would like more information please request a Free Online Consultation, through the website (www.for-the-father.com). We are here to serve!
Sincerely,
Aric Deacon Cunningham aka 81 Dragonfly....
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