7.Listen. You have two ears and one mouth, use them in this proportion.
When we think of leadership, without giving it a lot of thought, many of us tend to think of powerful speakers. Certainly, having terrific speaking skills is an asset for a leader. And, certainly, great speeches have motivated groups to accomplish great feats. Think General MacArthur, Winston Churchill, Herb Books, and Knute Rockne here.
As powerful as speaking can be, I would argue that most often the more important skill for a leader is listening. It is listening that helps a leader truly understand a situation. I would even venture to say there was very likely a great deal in the way of listening and understanding before speakers shared the kinds of speeches we now consider most famous.
It’s interesting that in our society we typically don’t give much credence to the importance of listening and understanding when it comes to being an effective leader. I think that’s too bad, because it’s tough to impossible to be a great leader without being an effective listener. Without listening and deeply understanding a situation, it’s tough to be decisive. Without listening to others, it’s more challenging to get ‘everyone on board’ and headed in the same direction.
I thinks it’s a sign of my growing older that I get asked from time to time by aspiring educational leaders what I think is the one most important thing they can do to become exceptional leaders. My answer is, quite simply, to learn to listen well. Listening well is a skill, one that I continue to work on every day. Listening well is not a physical act. That’s hearing. Listening well is not the all too common practice of thinking about what one is going to say in response to what someone else is sharing, while the other person is doing the talking. Listening well is listening to understand. To truly and deeply understand. It involves using the art of asking clarifying questions. It also involves seeking non-verbal cues and being attentive to the ‘message within the message’. Just like other skills, to listen well takes effort and lots of practice.
One final thought. I’ve never heard anyone criticize someone else for listening too much.
Redmond's Rules
1. Faith and family come first.
2. Our work is always about the STUDENTS.
3. See #2. Or better yet, our work is always about each individual STUDENT.
4. If you have too many 'top' priorities, you really have none. Focus on a few things and do them really well.
5. Hustle mistakes are encouraged.
6. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything (Mark Twain).
7. Listen. You have two ears and one mouth, use them in this proportion.
8. Treat others as you would like to be treated (Golden Rule). Or even better, treat others as they would like to be treated (Platinum Rule).
9. Two heads are better than one.
10. Healthy organizations have honest discussions.
11. Culture eats strategy for breakfast (Peter Drucker).
12. Play like a champion today.
13. Positive people who work the hardest always seem to have the most 'luck'.
14. We are preparing students for their future, not our past (Ian Jukes).
15. In education, nearly everything works, or has a positive correlation. Spend more time doing the things research shows work best (see John Hattie's research for details).
