170. The Overlooked Leadership Skill of Listening, a Quick Conversation with Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson

Spiritual Life and Leadership

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss the idea that listening is often overlooked in leadership, and provide insights on how genuine, deep listening can help leaders become more effective.
It's important to listen to different groups of people, including those being served and those within the congregation, and to listen to God through prayer, worship, and scripture. This form of listening allows leaders to discern the needs of people and, in turn, respond to genuine needs in the world.
Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson focus on this quote from Jeff Crosby in Episode 96: Crossing Leadership Thresholds.
"It is in the listening--genuine, deep listening--that we can offer our best selves to our organizations."
TIMESTAMPED OVERVIEW:
[00:01:27] Listening leads to powerful organizational leadership that responds to genuine needs.
[00:03:04] Listening is key to effective leadership, as it allows for deeper understanding of needs and discernment of how best to serve.
Q&A:
1. Why is deep listening important in leadership?
- Jeff Crosby's quote suggests that listening is often overlooked in favor of speaking and providing answers as a leader. Learning how to listen well allows leaders to go deeper into the pain and needs of others.
2. Who should leaders listen to?
- It is important to listen to different groups of people, including those being served and those within the congregation. He also suggests listening to God through prayer, worship, and scripture.
3. Why do many leaders struggle with listening?
- Many leaders struggle with too many voices and opinions when making decisions. Leaders tend to stop listening and start talking too much, which can be disruptive.
4. What can leaders do to become better listeners?
- Leaders can become better listeners by learning how to listen well, going deeper into the pain and needs of others, and attuning to those around them. This includes listening to the pain and needs of their own people, the needs of the world, and God to discern what they should do.
5. What are some characteristics of the healthiest organizations?
- The healthiest organizations are those that respond to genuine needs in the world, which can only be understood by genuinely listening to people, often including those who feel they do not have a right to articulate their needs.

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