Your Best Communication Tool

I know of a lot of student leaders who don't feel like they're good public speakers.

They begin to feel that if they can't deliver a message in front of a group of people they're not good communicators.

I invite you to take that and file it away under communication MYTHS.

I believe that a leader's best communication tool is the ability to listen.

That's right...can you hear me now? Listening will be the thing that defines your leadership communication.

If there's a problem in your organization - you're first move should be to listen.
If there's a difficulty between you and someone else - you should take the time to listen.
If you don't know what your next step should be - take a listening tour amongst those whom you serve.

For some, this may be one of the most freeing ideas you've thought about in awhile. It isn't so much that you have to always say the right thing. It's more about letting the people whom you serve know that you HEAR them, that you've taken the time to LISTEN to them. You got your ears on and they know it.

Think about it: Who do you like to be around? The person who talks all the time or the person who takes the time to listen to you?

Now I'm all for a person learning to hone their communication skills. Learn to speak better, learn to write better. Learn to craft a compelling message.

But don't forget (which often happens) to take the time to work at (and it DOES take work) your listening skills.

One of the best compliments a person can give you at the end of your student leadership year is that you were the one who takes the time to listen.

Comments

[tim]

Great example Goei.

I didn't know that about the Chinese character. There's a lot we can learn from each other if we take the time to listen.

[goei eunice]

yes, strongly agrees on this. not only should we nurture our youths to be good listeners, we adults should also work hard on this. If you look at the Chinese Character - for Listen, the word really looks into giving your "EAR" with your "ONE HEART" and pay fullest attention to the speaker who is then considered the "KING". If everyone does that, less misunderstanding would have resulted and tasks will be more effectively achieved.