Listening and kindness are two characteristics of human behavior that sometimes fall by the wayside in the workplace.
“Listen to what others say!” has morphed into a mantra in management. And so it is ignored. Here are some questions to help you become a better listener — and a better helpmate for your colleagues.
- What is my role? Knowing what you do, as well as what you are expected to do, is critical to understanding your role in the company.
- What is my colleague’s role? Knowing what others do is equally important because, if you don’t understand their roles, you cannot assist them.
- What can I do to help? Consider action steps you can take. It may be as simple as being timely or courteous. It may be as time-consuming as actually helping them complete a task.
- What’s stopping you from helping out? Some people resist help. None of us like meddlers. Being “of service” is not interfering; it’s offering assistance.
- How do you know when you are succeeding? Serving others works when it facilitates work. People work more efficiently and more cooperatively.
And all of this taken together makes for a happier and more productive workplace.
John Baldoni is an internationally recognized leadership educator and executive coach. In 2017, Trust Across America named him a Top Thought Leader in Trust for the fourth consecutive year. Global Gurus ranked Baldoni No. 22 on its list of top 30 global experts, a list he has been on since 2007. In 2014, Inc.com named him to its list of top 50 leadership experts. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including his newest, “MOXIE: The Secret to Bold and Gutsy Leadership.”
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