There are some really great leaders, some not-so-great-leaders…and then there are really bad leaders. There are terrible leaders, micro managers, impatient leaders, selfish leaders, egotistical leaders, unappreciative leaders, unreasonable leaders, and weak leaders who are afraid to do their job. And maybe the worst kind of leader is the leader who doesn’t listen.
Some leaders think that they wake up with an invisible cape around their shoulders that makes them the expert in all things. If you are a leader (and we are all leaders in some way), I am delighted to tell you that you don’t know everything.
Regardless of how long you have been in your industry, your company, or your particular role (even as leader in the home), you really do not know everything. The world is changing at an incredible pace, your competitors are getting smarter, and technology is throwing new curve balls at your organization every day. It isn’t possible to know everything, and only the most arrogant or ignorant leader would think otherwise. Your title did not come with superpowers. (And by the way, your team is already painfully aware that you don’t know everything!)
The antidote to this ill: be curious. Ask questions about issues. Invite your team and those who do have the details to weigh in and give you advice. Trust them. Recognize that they are closer to the details, closer to the problems, closer to the consequences of your decision, and closer to the customer. They will have an important perspective and critical details which you will need to make a quality decision. I admit that they also have limited knowledge of some of the other details you must consider. Nonetheless, be curious, get the facts, and whenever possible let them in on your thought process.
Leaders may make the final decision in many cases (though a good leader knows when they can allow others to decide), yet they should not do so without soliciting and listening to the advice of their team and seriously considering the implications of their decision. Be honest, who should you be listening to more often? This week, surprise your team as you seek to listen more and exhibit a genuine spirit of curiosity about their vantage point.