HEARING THE UNHEARD.

Years ago Tupac Shakur penned the Hip Hop anthem “Holler if Ya Hear Me.” However, it was really listening that he was after. In fact, leadership listening is often about hearing the unheard. Albert Mehrabian, a researcher of body language, found that up to 90% of communication is (at times) non-verbal. And the most effective leaders understand that listening is indispensable to understanding core issues. In "Parables of Leadership" authors Kim and Mauborgne explain 'listening' through the advice given by a Chinese Master to a young prince: "To hear the unheard, is a necessary discipline to be a good ruler. For only when a ruler has learned to listen closely to the people's hearts, hearing their feelings uncommunicated, pains unexpressed, and complaints not spoken of, can he hope to inspire confidence in the people, understanding when something is wrong, and meet the true needs of his citizens." Hearing is an appreciation of ‘sound’ - that something is being said, listening is an appreciation of ‘message’ - what is being said. Anatomically we have two ears and one mouth. And while this is obvious, the leadership implication is not: leaders should listen twice as much as we speak. Effective leaders understand that optimal listening is intentional, routine, and multidirectional. hashtag#LeadByListening

Krankenimages on Freepik