Leaders : #1 Skill to Practice in 2020

Nelson Mandela is regarded as one of the greatest leaders of our time. Although if we take many other political and business leaders, different nations and different people will have multiple opinions over them. However on Nelson Mandela the entire world thinks the same. The great leader, if not the greatest.

One day when Mandela was asked what was his great lesson in becoming a great leader. He said he learned it from his father. His father was a tribal leader. He said he used to visit other tribes and discussions with his father. And he could remember 2 things from his visits;

1. They always sat in a circle

More Importantly,

2. Even being a leader his father always was the last person to speak.

We were told from our childhood to always listen to others. But have we ever told to speak at last? These 2 concepts are different from one another. In active listening we form an opinion after listening, but here even though you have the opinion, even though you have the authority to speak first, you will hear other opinions first. The skill to hold your opinion until everyone has spoken creates 2 situations.

• Everyone feels that their opinion is heard and they have contributed.
• You get to hear what all other thoughts before you render your opinion, which helps your opinion to be articulated better to relate to everyone.

How many times do we see in many occasions leaders gets into the boardroom and starts saying,

"Here's the problem, here's what I think, now lets go around the room to hear what you think"

It's too late. A tone is set, a direction is set and any outside the box ideas are discouraged. And with this continuing further, you are surrounded by people who have nothing to say than, what you already know. So in a meeting even if you agree don't nod yes, even if you don't agree don't nod No. Simply sit there and take all in. You should allow your self to ask questions instead. So that you could clear the idea what they mean, and why they mean and where are they coming from to that opinion. So you understand all this not only what they are saying. An at the end you will get your turn.

It may sound as an easy skill to develop, but it's not. Especially if you are in control of the forum. But that's when you MUST do it.