I was at the Cambridge Innovation Center in Boston the other day and saw this whiteboard where people were writing what they wished others did more often. And someone wrote one word: “Listened.”
Honestly? Same.
Because I really do think the first step to being a great leader is simply being a great listener. Not a fancy title. Not a TED Talk. Just… listening.
The funny thing is, most people think they’re good listeners. Meanwhile their brain is off doing gymnastics:
- “What’s my next meeting?”
- “Did I send that email?”
- “Why did I say yes to that Zoom invite?”
- “Did I leave the stove on?”
And look, I get it — life is chaotic and our brains are basically tabs in a browser that never closes. But if you want people to feel valued, the easiest way is to actually pay attention when they talk.
One of my favorite exercises that I teach in my keynote is super simple: just repeat what the person said back to them in your own words. Not in a weird impersonation way — just enough to show you actually understood them.
It forces you to slow down, be present, and not drift into “Hmm… what’s for dinner?” territory.
Because at the end of the day, the most underrated leadership skill isn’t talking…
…it’s actually listening.
