Common sense leaders connect on a one to level with the people they lead.
Todd McDonald and Kyndra Wilson conducted a study of over 2,000 employees over the five year period 1997 – 2002. Study participants were asked to complete the following statement: “I wish my manager would just…”
The responses fell into 11 major categories:
- Listen and understand my side of things.
- Tell me what’s going on.
- Ask for my input.
- Take my input seriously.
- Help me learn from my mistakes.
- Teach me what I need to know.
- Let me do my job.
- Make the tough calls.
- Do what you say you’ll do.
- Recognize that I have a life outside of work.
- Say “thank you”.
Items one through six and item 11 are directly related to one to one, face to face communication. In other words, over half of the things that people want from their leaders are directly related to leadership communication. That’s why common sense leaders hone their listening, interpersonal communication, discussion and conversation skills. And, as Oprah Winfrey says, they connect on a human level with the people they lead.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blog: www.SuccessCommonSense.com for common sense advice on becoming the life and career star you are meant to be.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
Good info Bud. Viji
Posted by: viji | March 26, 2007 at 11:01 PM