DELANY ON LEADERSHIP: DIALOG AS A WAY OF SHOWING RESPECT

DELANY ON LEADERSHIP: DIALOG AS A WAY OF SHOWING RESPECT

Being a good listener is a key trait every successful leader must have. ?But what does “good listener” really mean??Is it sitting there politely, waiting for the employee, vendor or customer to finish talking and then acknowledging that you’ve heard what they said, before moving on??That may be part of it, but we believe there is more.

?A leader who ends the process when the other speaker stops talking risks being seen as dismissive and disrespectful unless they take the next step.?That next step in listening is engaging in dialog. ?Dialog underscores listening and demonstrates that the leader actually heard and processed what they had to say . . . or even more importantly, that the leader cared about what they had to say.

Good dialog often begins by asking, “why?”.?Why did they think the way they did??Why are they interested in that topic??Why did they decide the way they did??Why do they think doing it their way will benefit the company/team??Asking some “whys” may even reveal a perspective the leader may not have considered.

A leader doesn’t always have to agree with his or her employees, vendors or customers.?However, by engaging in dialog, leaders communicate respect for people and their contribution to the conversation, helping reinforce their bond to the team.