When we typically think of a leader, we think of the person everyone else is listening to. Whether its the front man for a band, the quarterback for a football team, or an office manager, the story is the same. The leader calls the shots. The leader gives the orders. The leader has the floor.
But is it possible that a leader could be something more? We expect the leader to be in charge, but how revolutionary would it be if a leader delegated some of that authority to the members of his team? We all expect the leader to talk. But what if the leader actually took the time to listen?
Sometimes it's true that a great leader needs to be the one who takes the floor and says what needs to be said. But, more often than not, the kind of leader that people actually want to follow is the kind of leader that takes the time to listen. As a leader in the mortgage industry, how often do you listen to your people? Do you invite them to bring their concerns before you? Do you encourage them to offer their opinions and insights? If you do, I'm willing to bet that they'll be much more likely to stick with you through the thick and the thin.
More than likely, you have many talented and intelligent people on your team. At the end of the day, you can't afford not to hear what they have to say. Giving your people a voice can give your business a competitive edge. All you have to do is listen. You might be pleasantly surprised by what your people have to say.
David Lykken, a 43-year veteran of the mortgage industry, is president of Transformational Mortgage Solutions (TMS), a management consulting firm that provides transformative business strategies to owners and “C-Level” executives via consulting, executive coaching and various communications strategies. He is a frequent guest on FOX Business News and hosts his own weekly podcast called “Lykken On Lending” heard Monday’s at 1:00 p.m. ET at LykkenOnLending.com. David’s phone number is (512) 759-0999 and his e-mail is [email protected].
