“The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.”

~Woodrow Wilson

A leaders’ focus on listening leads to more effective teamwork, higher productivity, fewer conflicts and errors, enhanced innovation and problem-solving, improved recruiting and retention, superior customer relations and more. As authors on leadership development have noted through the years, listening is not just a nice thing to do, it’s essential.

The quote from Woodrow Wilson, so eloquently articulates the importance of listening for truly effective leadership.  Engaging the hearts and minds of others is the path to visions being realized.  Listening is the cornerstone of that engagement.  Visionary, Isaac Newton states it as well as any leader ever could

“If I have seen further, it’s only by standing on the shoulders of giants”,

Be sure to listen, there are many giants among you.