Touchpoint - Listening Skills

Hello, I'm MDRT President Randy Scritchfield. And I'd like to share one of my leadership touchpoints. Today, the topic is Listening Skills. In discussions about leadership, we often talk about the importance of communication, from being easily accessible to others, to using clear and concise language. Meaningful and impactful leadership always requires strong, keenly developed communication skills.

One often overlooked facet of effective leadership communication is listening. What you are doing right now to me. Beyond speaking and writing, the ability to truly listen is a hallmark of strong and respected leadership. Why do I say respected leadership? Because everyone wants and likes to be heard. The best leaders engender respect, not only through their outward communication, but also their ability to receive and often act on communication to and with them.

MDRT leaders have deep wells of experience on which to draw. So, their guidance and mentoring are highly valued. But listening is a powerful and valuable skill too. It shows interest in people's thoughts and contributions and lets them know that their input is important.

Consider this. Your rise to an involvement in MDRT leadership occurred in part because others listened when you shared information and concepts with them. Those leaders' ability and willingness to listen ultimately helped you to become a leader. And now you are in the position to enable and empower others to travel a similar path. When we listen, we learn. And that is a reward for leadership we should always remember.

We all have room to improve our listening skills. So, consider these tips. The first may seem obvious, but it merits further emphasis. Talk less, listen more. We have ample opportunities to talk in life. So, taking the time to listen provides balance and perspective, making you a better leader. Second, foster discussions in comfortable settings. Talking and listening are not merely opposite sides of a conversation like a tennis ball hit back and forth across the net. Engage in dialogue that facilitates high engagement.

Finally, encourage and welcome questions. Your answers will drive further conversation and may even prompt follow up questions from you. Commit to listening carefully to your team members, acknowledging what you hear and empowering them to tell you more. It's a proven strategy for leadership success.