Leader Growth

4 Reasons Your Team Thinks You’re Not Listening

If you’re going to lead a team, you must listen. No excuses. No exceptions.

Some managers naturally focus on tasks and projects. Yet, the best leaders focus on the needs of the people they serve. Always.

Although some team members may be subordinates, they are also partners. And they need to know – without a doubt – that they have absolute freedom to contribute their unique perspective to the organization. Even when it differs from yours.

And their perspective will be different than yours – regularly. So if you are going to influence people, you must slow down and listen – long enough to understand and consider their perspective.

If you are going to lead, you must listen.

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Most employees think their boss is deaf to their recommendations, their observations, and their pleas for more resources. And few managers realize that their team feels this way.

Here are 4 reasons team members think their manager isn’t listening…

4 Ways to Respond When Your Team Thinks You’re Crazy!

I am task-oriented. It’s easy for me to identify a project that needs to be done and to focus on getting it accomplished.

And I’ve learned that there are times that my “driven” nature frustrates and intimidates other people.

A couple of years ago, I sensed a rising level of frustration within our organization. So I sat down with several of team members and asked them to help me understand how my actions were being perceived.

While I expected some of the responses – others surprised me. Some hurt deeply. Not because the team members were being unkind – I simply had a hard time believing what I was hearing. They said things like…

When You Think You Can’t Give More – Give Anyway

When I feel like there’s nothing left, when I’m under enormous pressure, when my life and work are chaotic – even then, I can give more – to my family, to my team, to my friends, to future leaders. And so can you.

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I wrote previously about a life-changing experience that taught me I could give more. Check out that article – it will add value to this one.

5 Ways a Coach Can Help You

Mark Miller is a Vice President at Chick-fil-A corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. I recently asked him –

As you have interacted with business professionals for more than 30 years at all levels of organizations, what have you found to be their greatest need?

Without hesitating, he said –

Everyone needs a coach – everyone. The majority of people may not agree with me. And most people don’t have a coach. But a coach enhances your natural ability. A coach helps you see and do what you can’t see and do on your own.

BONUS: I’ve created a NEW special event to give you the opportunity to see what it’s like to work one-on-one with a coach. You can find out more at the end of this post or reserve your space now.

A great coach tells you what you may not be prepared to hear, helps you see what you could not see, and can help you improve beyond what you ever thought you could be.

A good coach helps YOU identify what needs to been done, then helps you do it. The ultimate goal of a coach is to lead others to succeed because a great coach believes that every person has the potential to grow.

A coach can lead you to reach your full potential

The NEW Personal Life Plan Guide

Every person should have a SIMPLE Personal Life Plan that is reviewed and updated regularly.

I wrote a personal life plan in 2004. Shortly after I wrote my life plan, I began working with an Executive Coach. These two changes (a new personal plan and an executive coach) significantly impacted my life and work. Within a few months, I sat down and noted 3 Reasons Why Everyone Should Have a Personal Plan.

Here they are – with a personal plan, you can…