What qualities does a great leader possess? Talent? Charisma? Confidence? Typically, great leaders are smart. They’re good connectors. They’re good decision makers and, even more importantly, decision managers. In most of our thinking about great leadership, we often skip over one particular characteristic that has a surprising influence on a leader’s ability to lead better: great leaders are great listeners.
I still remember the funny movement my stomach made when Pastor Rick Warren asked me to address the staff at Saddleback Church about the in’s and out’s of using social media to minister to more people. (This was 2010, by the way – digital ages ago.)
Great Leaders Are Great Listeners
There were several hundred people on staff who would gather in the Refinery theater weekly to hear Pastor Rick share lessons about leadership and observations about his vision for Saddleback. And on this particular week, he asked if I’d speak to everyone in his place.
Speaking to hundreds of people doesn’t get me too worked up, and I felt confident in my knowledge of the content. What had me a little stressed out was a single person who would be there, in the audience listening. Yeah. Pastor Rick Warren.