Don’t Dominate the Discussion

Owners and managers often think they need to command and control meetings, discussions, and planning with their subordinates.  Leaders will call meetings and say they want to hear from everyone.  But too often they dominate the discussion by correcting or even intimidating anyone who doesn’t agree with their viewpoint.

Leaders will speak when they should listen and cut off conversations when they would benefit by hearing from others.  You can impart information when you talk, but you certainly can’t learn anything.  Yet many people in leadership positions love to hear themselves talk.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But power also interrupts, and interrupting someone while they’re talking is rude and selfish, a turn-off at best, and disgraceful at worst.

So if you want to be a better leader, listen more, be open to new ideas, thank people for their questions and observations, and show genuine appreciation for their input.  If you have a problem with this, your leadership will suffer and so will your people.

Here are a few Business & Life Tips to think about….

Business Tips:

• Most small businesses fail because owners do little to build their market, sell their vision, and create adequate structure.
• People want to know that their work is valued and that their contribution to the success of the business is appreciated.
• Leaders who fail to communicate fail those under their watch. Instead, be clear and inform in order to lead well.

Life Tips:

• If you facilitate a small group, encourage discussion, get everyone involved, keep people on track, and control a dominator.
• Insecure people fear revealing their true selves, and instead try to dominate others. Stand tall against such weak people.
• Listen carefully to your biggest critics. They can be your best unpaid “consultants.” There is often some truth to what they say.

Tags: Advice, appreciation, Benefit, Business Development, Business Tips, Command, Control, Conversation, Crisis Management, Developing Leaders, Discussion, Dominate, Drive, Genuine, Hear, Impact, Information, Interrupt, Knowledge, Leader, Leaders, Leadership, Leadership Excellence, Leadership Problems, Leadership Skills, Learn, Learning, Life Tips, Listen, Management, manager, meeting, New Ideas, Observation, Operation, owner, People, People Leaders, Personal Development, Philosophy, Plan, Planning, Position, Power, Problem, Question, Reality, Relationships, Subordinates, Talk, The Mind of a Leader