Now Listen Up!

Speak Up is another recent read covering barriers to speaking up and listening up.

Speak Up by Megan Reitz and John Higgins

Reitz and Higgins have researched how we talk, listen, and learn from each other inside the workplace for decades. Power has an enormous impact on who speaks up and who is heard. Unfortunately, people in charge often don't recognize how their power silences others.

I found the observations on Listening Up incredibly informative. Great leaders know that active listening uncovers problems earlier, provides a richer pool of options, allows course correction more quickly, and creates a problem-solving culture. The benefits are enormous, yet most leaders must be attuned to what it takes to make others speak up. They don't create an environment that allows them to Listen up.

You may need help if any of these statements are true.

1. You rarely get challenged

2. You get complimented on your ideas a lot

3. You have to work really hard to hear alternative perspectives

4. Others usually paint a positive picture of you

5. People agree with your agenda for change, but nothing changes

It takes work to Listen Up because:

1. We all tend to value our own opinion around a third more than the option of others (in some groups, this is much higher)

2. We believe we are approachable and assume others wouldn't hide things from us.

Other Listening up mistakes to watch out for:

1. Always going to the same select few and leaving other's out.

2. Believing that we are already great listeners, we can listen while doing other things like,"l checking emails.

3. Listen to the powerful and ignore those with boots on the ground.

4. Default reactions that shut folks down-scowl, lack of eye contact, checking phone

5. Logistical mistakes:

   1. The location is not conducive or intimidating.

   2. The presence of others silences speakers.

   3. Capacity limitations of those in attendance (I don't have room to care about this, so I won't share my thoughts.)

   4. Time pressure to respond, leaving no space to think and craft an answer.

   5. Feeling that it is unsafe, either personally or professionally, to bring up concerns, problems, or counter opinions

The two most essential requirements for outstanding Listening Up are:

1. Being open to having your opinions changes

2. Awareness that you're perspective is always partial and limited

I'm ready to Listen up, but no one is Speaking up. So what's getting in their way?

Your positional power, expertise, influence, or habitual adverse reaction to others' comments can discourage others from Speaking Up. 

What else stops others from speaking up?

1. Imposter syndrome

2. Believing that speaking up won't change anything

3. Expecting someone else will say it

4. If I bring it up, I'll have to fix it

5. Believing that contributions aren't meaningful

The Rule of St. Benedict order insists that the head of the monastery listens to the youngest monk. The privilege of positional power comes with the responsibility to learn, respect and listen to all. 

Creating an environment where others will speak up takes awareness, empathy, time, and consistent effort. You have to do your part and be ready to listen. So do the work and open up information channels-it will pay off.