Listen deeply first. So let’s say you’re having a conversation with someone, and you say, “Can we sit down and talk about something that’s really important to me?” Tell the person initially what you want to talk about, what’s bothering you, and then have the wisdom to listen deeply right after that. And I love this physical cue. I’ve seen a lot of the best leaders on the planet. They understand that the best communicators are all about listening, not talking because the larger idea is really this. When you listen to another human being from the fullness of your presence, it’s one of the high acts of honoring another human being. You want your teammates to grow, listen to them. You want your children to open up in their love for you, their self-confidence, listen to them. You want to build a culture of high performers, stop talking so much and get brilliant at listening deeply.
