CEOs Who Speak Loudest and Longest May Not Have Influence After All

This week I’m spending time at a 4 day intensive with other professional speakers, focused on the business side of speaking. There were so many gems of information and insight shared today, and it’s only day 1. One key idea which stood out for me was the importance of great communication. Now this may seem like a flash of the blindingly obvious. But hear me out. I’m not referring to the skills of speaking on a stage. I’m referring to the communication skills needed off stage. You may have heard the saying that ‘every time you open your mouth to speak, you’re auditioning for leadership.’ This may be true. I believe what is equally true is, every time you close your mouth and listen, you are auditioning for leadership. We’ve all experienced leaders who would rather listen to their own voices than to hear what we have to say. And it’s not a good experience. Some of the most impressive and impactful leaders I have ever observed have been those who say very little. Leaders who listen first. Leaders who know that there is value in understanding other people’s perspectives. Leaders who know that they are not the expert in everything and can learn from the people around them. Leaders who appreciate the questions that other people ask. Not the leaders who suck all the air out of the room so that they can hear their own voices. We all know that when we speak, we repeat what we know, and when we listen, we learn. And leaders need to always be learning. Being the person who speaks the most does not necessarily make you the most impactful. It does not mean that you are adding the most value. <a href="https://staceyashley.medium.com/ceos-who-speak-loudest-and-longest-may-not-have-influence-after-all-db448cba4006">Website</a>