Volume XXII, Number 31 (Issue 1087) July 29, 2024
A Personal Listening Tour…
… can be priceless. For that matter, listening with the intent to understand, regardless of time and place, is priceless. Though that has universal applicability, just for today I want to focus on one group of individuals: executives, and their need to create listening opportunities.
Executives, as we all know, are busy people. That is not to suggest the rest of us are not busy. But for execs a packed schedule is the norm. Some of the things that can make it so include: the need to be effective across a large span of control, a steady stream of meetings that frequently begin with breakfast and conclude with dinner, endless reading that is required to stay on top of the changes impacting their industry and organization, time needed for strategizing and decision-making, countless interruptions, the expectation they will be active and engaged leaders in their community, and the list of work-related duties goes on. It does not stop there, however, as wise leaders also take time for family and make time for some much-needed self-care.
Add a pinch of what is mis-guided humility, and it is little wonder many execs struggle to find time to visit with associates in their direct orbit, let alone those on another floor or who work in far flung locations. Some execs work hard to compensate for the dearth of facetime by recording the occasional video message for the staff. Others hold periodic townhall meetings where they might discuss quarterly earnings, introduce major organizational changes, and field a few questions. Yet, as beneficial as those efforts can be, they pale in comparison to what an effective face-to-face listening tour can accomplish.
Let me differentiate the sort of listening tour I am lobbying for compared to the times when someone from headquarters shows up to deliver bad news. Having an exec appear to lecture, terminate someone, announce a RIF, or something similar is always an unwelcome sight. Conversely, should an exec appear in person to express their appreciation, celebrate a milestone, or simply say, “I am listening, and I am here to help,” – there are few events as powerful or transformative.
There is no denying a round of site visits is time consuming, especially when other things demand a leader’s attention. However, getting out to gauge the pulse of those on the frontline, hear their frustrations and ideas, and solve some of their pressing problems is incredibly impactful. That is because when those with the
power to fix things make the effort to listen and act, bonds are built, and a culture of care and continuous improvement is enhanced and reinforced.
One additional benefit such listening tours can provide arises when the exec takes someone from their team along as driver and companion. I cannot tell you how much I learned from those “windshield time” sessions when I was chosen to accompany a senior leader on their tour de team. Talk about a mentoring opportunity!
Thus, whether you are the leader, the road companion, or those being visited, appreciate the opportunity a listening tour offers.
Soli Deo Gloria
“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” Proverbs 18:2
J. Keith Hughey
Mobile: (210)260-0955
E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
Website: www.jkeithhughey.com
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Copyright 2024 by J. Keith Hughey. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for reproduction and redistribution of this essay as provided under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Recent issues of Musings may be found at www.jkeithhughey.com. Your comments are always welcome.