Listening

Learfield’s Advisory Board meets Monday afternoon next week in St. Louis.  These five come from strong backgrounds–as I’ve previously communicated.  So we try to get the most from them during the five hours we’re together.  We ask good questions and work hard to listen to their answers.  Trust me, there’s a temptation to “tell”.  But we need to learn to spend more time asking; then listening.

That holds true in leadership.  Back in the early 90’s Sam Walton, Walmart’s founder, came to my office (Jan Prenger used to be his personal assistant).  He spent 30-minutes or so privately with me.  It remains one of the highlights of my life!  Funny thing though about that time:  He asked many more questions than I did.  I tried and tried to ask him things, but he always deflected those questions and shot questions back at me!  “How do you get financing?  How’d you get this business started?  When did you build this building?  Have you gotten value from this fancy conference room?  And on and on… My point is this:  successful people are inquisitive and listen.

And, it holds true in personal relationships, doesn’t it?  When you get back from a business trip and first see your spouse, imagine asking:  how have you been?  What happened on “30-Rock” last night?  Tell me about PTA?  Then really listen; really listen.  At a recent meeting, I watched a friend from afar as he stood truly engaged in a conversation.  His body language indicated his sincere interest in hearing all his colleague was saying.  Then they moved to a table and my buddy leaned forward catching every morsel of what the guy was saying.  It told me a good deal–and taught me much.

Be a leader; be a better friend; be a better spouse; be a better person.  Ask questions and listen.

–clyde