I wrote this down some years ago. I think I got it from Geno Auriemma. I thought it was great leadership and management advice.
“Be good at understanding people who cannot explain themselves.
Be good at explaining to people who don’t understand.”
Being a path to clarity is an important leadership quality.
Great post, Larry. Both of those abilities require a good deal of patience and grace in understanding what someone doesn’t understand or can’t communicate themselves, well-developed active listening skills to draw out context from what they are able to express on their own, and the personal subject matter expertise to be able to close the context gap between what they are unable to grasp or communicate and what you realize needs to be articulated to them, or for them, to open the doors of understanding.
Very thought provoking post to start the day – Thanks!
Btw, just listened to Iron Sharpens Iron over the past three days – GREAT STUFF! And I could see so much of Into the Dust 2, 3, & 4 in my head while I listened. Really cool! 🙂
That is excellent advice!
“Clarity is an organization’s best friend.” (From a recent podcast.)
“Seek first to understand, Then to be understood” from Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s 5th Habit from his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. I highly recommend the book and his other “7 Habits” books!