60 percent of management problems stem from poor communication – mostly from poor listening.
Peter Drucker estimated that 60 percent of management problems result from poor communication. That’s why listening is one of a leader’s most important qualities.
What listening means for leaders
Four kinds of listening: “I see” listening is merely a prelude to speaking yourself. Attentive listening signals attention through gestures and sounds.
Paraphrasing listening restates what was said in your own words to avoid misunderstandings. Empathic listening also grasps feelings and needs.
What listening looks like in practice
The emperor who listened to his advisers
In times of crisis and war, Marcus Aurelius sought his advisers’ counsel, weighed their arguments and tried to understand the people’s hardships. He never thought himself infallible – his Meditations bear witness to that humility.
Do you listen with one ear or four?
According to Friedemann Schulz von Thun, every message carries four things: factual content, self-disclosure, relationship and appeal. Listen only to the facts and you miss what people reveal about themselves and what they actually want from you.
The philosopher who led with questions
Socrates began every dialogue with questions, listened patiently without judging too soon and followed up precisely – until his partners reached insight on their own. His words “I know that I know nothing” show the humility behind it.
What the animation shows
Waves travel from left to right. Whoever listens takes them in completely.
