Great leaders talk last

stop talking start listening

Great Leaders usually lead from the rear. It's counter-intuitive for many but true nonetheless.

We live in an age where followers are important. Non more so than in the sphere of social media where the quantum of those who hang on your every word or post or vlog drives your sense of self worth and importance as well as the size of your bank account. Thus are born opinion leaders and influencers who can ( and do) bask in the magnificence of their social media aura and audience.

Now I have been exposed to only a very small part of the world of social media influencers but my conclusion is that the number of followers is quite often inversely proportionate to the quality of the drivel that passes for content - but what do I know? Well, I know that in a world full of followers, great leaders act differently.

Leadership is about team. And team means that everyone has a chance to make an input (and an impact) . A leader might often be the least qualified in the room to make an input on any particular subject - but he or she is the one who can ensure that those who are in a position to make an input can be heard. Just stop and think about that... good leaders manage the discussion to ensure that every person has a the chance to say what they think without fear or favour, in the safe knowledge that no one can deny their voice, but also in the knowledge that others may have differing views. In other words, great leaders talk last. First they coalesce the interested or affected around a point of discussion / decision and then canvas opinion/debate from all of those with some equity in the call.

Finally, a great leader, always having set the framework for a decision, will bring the discussion to a decisive conclusion. Irrespective of how a decision is made (consensus, consultation, or autocracy) - everyone feels listened to and bought-in to the process.

That's why great leaders start the discussion with "what do you think" - rather than "I think this, what about you".

Now none of this is serves as a gag on leaders. They might facilitate or guide a discussion, or give context or external perspective. But it does stop leaders reaching a conclusion without taking on board input data, opinions and other perspectives. Sounds like a good thing to me.

Next time you are in this situation as a leader, maybe its time to use your ears (and eyes) to see what the inputs are before finally talking last...... leaders know when its time to start listening and stop talking. Or maybe you just want lots of followers who hang on your every word....... You decide.