The High Cost of Not Listening.
There is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing someone means that another person has spoken and their words have entered your ears. That does not mean those words made it to your brain or to your heart.
Hearing, on the other hand, is not quite so passive. It is active in nature and involves taking what is said, understanding it, and then making a decision on what to do with that information. Here is what is so powerful about taking the time to hear someone.
First, that person feels valued. The number one reason people leave most jobs is not because of money. It is because they did not feel valued as a person. Secondly, It is wise to listen. All leaders are busy trying to move forward, manage, and figure things out. It is easy to miss details when you are having to keep that eagle-eye view of everything that is going on in your business. That is why it is even more important to create a culture where people feel free to speak, to encourage, and to warn leadership.
In 2013 the retail company, Target, had an unbelievably huge data breach. You might have been affected by it. I was. 40 million credit cards were stolen. The sad part is that it could have likely been avoided. Employees had warned of the danger a number of times and one analyst, in particular, recommended a thorough review of their payment system. REQUEST DENIED.
According to a payments.com article in 2015, the combined expenses for the breach in 2013 and 2014 were 162 million dollars. The cost can be high for not listening to those in the trenches. Think about it. The people you lead are dealing with the details of your business. They are there every day looking at things you do not have the time or maybe the expertise to handle. They see things you cannot see. When they have a concern, it is usually a good idea to take time to listen. Target is one example of leadership not listening, but this is not an isolated issue. The same type of thing happened with Wells Fargo, General Motors, General Motors, and the list goes on.
A wise man once said, "Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger." The people we lead need strong leaders, but they also need leaders who will listen and understand. It is good for you to listen and good for them to have someone they can trust. Who knows, listening to someone may save your job and keep you from a 162 million dollar mistake.
Here are a few ideas that might help.
Model listening to those in your immediate circle.
Teach your managers and leaders to listen, evaluate, and act. If they are not sure about what to do, go up the chain.
Cultivate a culture of valuing people personally. This is not just giving recognition for a job well done, but valuing the individual. It will develop trust and openness.
Make a weekly appointment on your calendar that says, "Ask Questions". Use that time to get the opinion of others. This will help train you to listen. Be careful to not wear your feelings on your shoulders and do not get defensive first. Be quick to hear and slow to speak.
By the way, use this same principle with your family. Really taking time to hear someone could save your marriage and relationships with your children. Remember, the cost of not really hearing someone can be very high.
