Every new leader could benefit from the anatomical lesson of having two ears and one mouth. Listening is one of the most powerful skills that a leader can possess. In his classic work, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey described the power in Habit #5 as “seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
Through the process of coaching many new leaders or leaders in new situations, I have developed a list of three questions that exploits the power of listening. When leaders find themselves in a new role or new organization, I suggest that they take the time to ask the following three questions:
- What are the three most important things that we do in this organization?
- What are the two most important things that we should be doing, but are not?
- Why are we not doing them?
I ask the leaders to talk to as many employees as possible, at all levels throughout the organization. I also request that they take notes of the responses, obviously and copiously. The power of this process is threefold:
- It demonstrates that the new leader is interested in what their team thinks.
- It provides an opportunity for the leader to gauge alignment through the organization about what matters most.
- It reinforces that the leader will take a listen first posture and not presume to know what the organization is about (before they actually do).
So its as simple as that. Three questions, three big benefits.
Following this road map will enable a new leader to connect with their team, utilizing their two ears before engaging their one mouth.