Don’t you just hate it when you’re talking, and people don’t listen? Combine that with a leadership position, and it can be one of the most challenging places to be in.
However, some of the world’s most outstanding leaders are living, breathing examples of how being patient, gentle, and compromising with your team can make them willing to work for you and with you. One of them is a professional business coach Nathan Garries.
Here’s what you can do to make sure your subordinates are not just listening to what you say, but also acting on it.
Table of Contents
1.Exercise Patience
One of the most influential qualities any human being can develop is patience. In the corporate world, however, it is a necessary characteristic in a leader. When you’re leading a team of people who do not listen, it is easy to lose your cool and react in a negative manner. However, this might make you deviate from your primary responsibility, which is to persuade and motivate them.
Moreover, stubborn people often enjoy sensing tension and agitation. Therefore, it is essential to teach yourself to take a couple of deep breaths, keep calm, and get your point across in a firm manner. You will be taken most seriously when people know their stubbornness cannot get to your head. Tesla CEO and entrepreneur, Elon Musk, defines patience as a “virtue” and a “tough lesson.”
2.Know When to Compromise
One of the most prominent characteristics of people who don’t listen is that they do not like to be told what to do and what not to do. Therefore, if all you do is shower them with orders and instructions all day long, your team will most likely ignore many of them.
There are many situations in a work environment where the subordinates know more about a particular problem or solution than the boss. You can use such cases to reach a compromise between yourself and your team. This will not only resolve conflict, but will also make them feel like a valuable part of the decision-making progress.
3.Be A Good Listener
When people don’t listen, they often feel like they are not being heard in the first place. Take out time and truly listen to what your subordinates want. You can do this even when you are shutting their ideas down. Listen to their reasoning first and then explain yours to get them to understand. This may help you earn their trust and cooperation.
Being a good listener will not only help you at your workplace, but it is also one of the most remarkable personality traits any person can have. Learn more about how to build your business and your finances while working with people from Certified financial planner Nathan Garries.
Leading a team of stubborn individuals when effective decision-making is at stake is one of the challenges almost every leader faces. However, with these tips, you can navigate your way through sticky situations caused by stubborn subordinates any day of the week.