231: Great Leaders are Great Listeners

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Do you tell rather than ask? Do you solve rather remain curious? Do you check out rather than lean in? The quality of your listening muscles are directly related to the impact of your leadership. Therefore great leaders are great listeners. Specifically practicing our listening skills can have direct impact on in the way we lead. Tune in to hear specific steps to fine tune your listening and leadership skills!

Great Listeners Make Greater Leaders Quotables

  • When we put our time and attention into something and we practice it often enough and become really good at it, it then becomes a strength. So why are we frustrated when we find a weakness? We know what we have to do to strengthen it.
  • If we want to make a long lasting impact, where folks continue to use their gifts and talents to make our field better, than we have to tune into what’s really happening. Listening is the only way to restructure and rebuild.   
  • Our model of great listening then translates to the teachers in the classroom and to their students.
  • What if someone invested in you so much that they didn’t let you give up on yourself? Wouldn’t you come out of your struggle faster? Be the coach you wish you had.
  • Listen by digesting what others are saying by not interjecting. Sometimes people just want to be heard.
  • Show up as you are. People just want you to be beside them.
  • Proximity and eye contact are important for closing the gap between you and the other person. Lean in and notice the cues of what they are saying head to toe.
  • Shut up. Pause. Wait. Allow them to share more and encourage dead time.
  • Rarely people need you to tell them what to do, they just need to talk it out. 
  • Follow through on your end of the bargain. Do your part. Following through makes people think you know care and they are valued. 
  • Pick one behavior and start there. Go hard in this one area and have a weekly check-in with your progress. Practice is the only way to grow.

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About the author, Gretchen

I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.

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