Proverbs 18:15 (AMP) The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge.
Some 3000 years ago, the world’s wisest man suggested that listening is vital for growth. “Google” the words Leadership and Listening and within seconds will find about 34,100,000 results today. Listening is a “hot topic” and in one of those results from a Google search, Jeroen van der Veer, president of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and vice chairman of Royal Dutch/Shell Group stressed to students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business the importance of listening skills to sustainable leadership. He further urged the MBA students “to adopt a model of leadership that involves modesty, empathy, and reflective listening.” He understood that one of the roles of leaders is to ask good questions and then listen to the responses. That takes time and is very different from “doing stuff” – but, in fact, it is the stuff of leading. Do you take the time needed to listen? It’s hard work, but leaders do it.
Copyright© 2006 P. Griffith Lindell
Friday, August 18, 2006
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