If you study any revolution, from the French to the Russian, you will find one common theme that undergirds the revolts: people feel unheard, their concerns remain unaddressed. Making sure our people feel heard is the foundation of leadership and any relationship for that matter.
Do your people feel heard?
I recently became the leader of a team in one of the non-profits I volunteer with. The first exercise I did was spend one-on-one time with each of the team members. I just wanted to listen. I asked simple questions like, “What do you think this organization needs? What do you think our team should focus on?” The ideas I received were immensely insightful and helpful, both to gather ideas we should implement and to understand people’s perceptions, perspectives, and state of mind. What was most noteworthy was how appreciative they felt that I listened and that I valued their input, which I demonstrated by taking notes and asking for clarifications—not countering and rebutting.
Remember, the goal is not merely that you hear your people, but that they genuinely feel heard. Feeling heard is more than an audible exercise. It even goes beyond feeling understood. People feel heard when we value what they say and act on it in an appropriate way. To truly hear people requires us to slow down and connect with them on a consistent basis.
When people don’t feel heard, problems will undoubtedly begin to brew. Here are five unhealthy results that can happen when people feel unheard.
- They gossip.
- They act out of emotion.
- They become hurtful.
- They give up.
- They revolt or quit.
What is your plan to regularly hear your people and ensure they feel heard?
How can I support you more as a Christian leader and entrepreneur?
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