The Art of Leading with Your Ears
One of my keys to success has been learning that listening is perhaps the most underrated leadership skill. Here is what I have learned about leading by listening.
I've been in technology leadership for over two decades now, and if there's one skill I've come to value above all others, it's listening. Not the polite nodding while waiting for your turn to speak—real, active listening.
A Hard Lesson Learned
A few years ago, during a particularly challenging period, I found myself so focused on keeping the organization running smoothly that I forgot to equally focus on the needs of my team. IT felt busier than ever. We were supporting the entire company through significant changes, and I was heads-down in problem-solving mode.
It took me too long to realize my shortcoming. My team was struggling, and I hadn't even noticed because I wasn't taking the time to truly listen.
The Turnaround
Once I recognized the problem, I made a conscious effort to make myself more available. Not to solve problems—but to listen. It's amazing how morale can be boosted just by being present and genuinely hearing what people have to say.
I've since made "be a good listener" one of my top strategic objectives. It might seem soft compared to technical goals, but I've learned that everything else flows from it.
Why Listening Matters in IT
As technologists, we're wired to solve problems. Someone brings us an issue, and our minds immediately jump to solutions. But effective IT leadership isn't just about fixing things—it's about understanding the real needs of the organization.
When my team works with other departments, I encourage them to focus first on understanding current challenges before proposing solutions. The best technology implementations I've been part of succeeded because we took the time to listen to stakeholders and understand their workflows before jumping to recommendations.
Lead by Example, Not by Mandate
I prefer to lead by example because I've experienced the "do as I say, not as I do" style of leadership. It slowly tears an organization apart and poisons its culture. When I want my team to listen better, I need to model that behavior myself.
The Bottom Line
"One of our greatest strengths is being able to identify our biggest weaknesses." This is something I remind myself of regularly. Listening helps us identify those weaknesses—in our processes, our technology, and our leadership.
If you're in a leadership role and feel like something's not clicking with your team, try this: stop talking so much and start listening. You might be surprised what you learn.
