Listening to others will help you become a better leader, but a key part of great leadership is also listening to yourself. Really listening to yourself means more than just thinking about what you’re going to say. It means taking the time to assess where you currently are and where you want to be. It means taking the time to look at your goals, priorities, and values to make sure that they are in alignment.
Why Listen to Yourself?
Listening to yourself helps guide your intentions and keeps you on the right track. If the thought of adding one more task to your already hectic schedule stresses you out, I completely understand. Start with just 15-30 minutes per week. That short amount of time can help you come up with ways to improve how you’re currently doing things, so it’ll actually save you time.
Also, listen to your body. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or burnt out, ask yourself what you need in order to recover. If your body is telling you to slow down and you’re still moving at warp speed, you’ll wear yourself out and not be as effective of a leader.
How to Listen to Yourself?
- Choose a quiet location where there aren’t any distractions.
- Have a piece of paper and pen with you.
- Close your eyes and ask yourself questions. Write down the answers if it’ll help you guide your thinking. I’ve included some sample questions to help you get started. Once you start the process, you’ll think of many more that are unique to you and your current situation.
Sample Questions
What are my priorities right now? What are my goals? What are my values? Am I spending my time in a way that’s aligned with my priorities, goals, and values? What’s bothering me? What’s keeping me from being as effective as I’d like to be? What skills do I need to develop to reach my goals?
- Write down goals you have and what skills you would like to develop in order to reach those goals.
- Think of specific detailed actions you can take to acquire those skills you’d like to develop. For example, if you want to develop your skill in giving feedback, your action could be to get advice from a specific person at work who is good at giving feedback. Another action could be that you’ll make it a point to give feedback on a daily or weekly basis.
So as you go about planning your week, remember to find a small chunk of time to spend listening to yourself.
This article is part of a series of listening articles. Access the other articles in this series by clicking on the links below.
Listening and Leadership Part 1: Why Should You Listen?
Listening and Leadership Part 2: Stop Faking and Really Listen
Listening and Leadership Part 3: Really Listen to Your Clients
Listening and Leadership Part 4: Really Listen to Your Employees