“I’m not sure I follow,” you say. “Of course. All leaders must listen.”
It goes deeper than simply just listening. Yes, the leaders must listen to those people who surround him or her. Yet, true listening is so much more than hearing with your ears. The great leader also listens with their eyes and emotions.
It’s what I call “corporate or organizational empathy.” A great leader can read the room.
A great leader can walk into any situation and automatically begin sizing what the room needs. She listens with her ears. He listens with his eyes. She listens with her emotions.
Much has been written about in recent years surrounding emotional intelligence. The ability to monitor one’s own and other people’s emotions.
This is leadership.
My encouragement for you today. Listen.
Not simply when someone is sitting across the table from you. Listen to the room. Listen with your eyes, ears and emotions. What are those things not being said, but are clearly being said.
Published by JC Hurtado-Prater | Leadership Professor + Consultant
JC Hurtado-Prater serves as Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Leadership at the Fermanian School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University where he oversees the graduate business and leadership programs. In addition, through his company, Bluestone Consulting, LLC, JC serves as a leadership consultant for executives and teams at global organizations such as Johnson + Johnson, Cisco, Visa, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Harbor Freight, Park Hyatt and more.
A veteran of the United States Army, JC earned a BA from UCLA, MBA through Saint Joseph’s College and is currently completing his doctorate in business administration through Indiana Wesleyan University. Passionate about community service in San Diego, JC serves on several local boards for organizations such as UC San Diego, South Bay Community Services, Thrivent Financial Southwest Region and Southwestern College Foundation. JC resides in the 4S Ranch area of San Diego, CA. In his free time, JC enjoys reading, working out and kayaking the California coast.
View all posts by JC Hurtado-Prater | Leadership Professor + Consultant
The Leadership Playbook 