Developing Leadership Abilities

What Leaders Gain by Improved Listening

Good listening is not a matter of politeness or “polish” for leaders—something akin to good table manners. Instead, good listening is a strategic advantage that gives competitive edge to leaders at all levels. Here’s how:

First, leaders who listen well end up knowing more than others. They have developed the skill to be quiet and receive information that they may want to filter out, but should not. In the case of the Challenger disaster, a leader decided not to “hear” the message of a faulty O-ring problem. In the case of Pearl Harbor, the Navy admirals in charge decided not to attend to rumors and reports of an impending attack. A commitment to listening gives a leader full information on which to base ...