Listen more than you speak. The 80:20 rule for great leaders
2 min read
Listening is not about your hearing; it’s making other people heard.
This doesn’t mean you have less time to communicate. Instead, it means sharing the ideas you want in a short, concise way so it reaches the point without going in circles.
If you speak, you only talk about what you already know. If you listen, you can learn something new and contribute in a compound fashion.
Why This is Important
- The more you listen, you build a new perspective and give time to shape your thoughts.
- You are giving other people an opportunity to explain, and sometimes they need someone who can listen to clarify their thoughts.
- Less time forces you to choose the right things you want to communicate.
- In a group setting, people often deviate from the topic they initiated, and as a good listener, you can help the team stay focused on the subject.
What Does This Mean
- When it’s your turn to speak, you have well-formed questions, ideas, and thoughts that can add value to the conversation and can gain the trust of others.
- People are more willing to engage you in discussions and topics that are complex and need help with
- You learn a lot and understand different things at play.
How To Execute
- Learn, and understand what the discussion is about:
- Depending upon the situation, you can help frame the conversation and clarify your role on where you can add value. Example situations
- A 1:1 conversation about Career, Project?
- Discussion with a group of people to address an ongoing problem?
- Driving alignment across Cross-Functional Teams.
- Take Notes:
- During the meeting, jot down topics you are unclear about or would like to follow up on. This way, you can let the conversation go without interrupting and revisit it if unanswered.
- This forces you to hold your opinions and provides the opportunity for other people to finish.
- When you get your turn, you have a better understanding and can share your questions, opinions, and learnings precisely.
- Introspect and Practice until this becomes a second nature