A student once asked his master,
“Why did nature give us two ears but only one mouth?”
The master smiled.
“So you might listen twice as much as you speak.”
The student frowned.
“But leaders are expected to speak, to guide, to command.”
The master replied,
“And yet a leader who only speaks knows only his own voice.
A leader who listens hears the voice of the world.”
The Leader’s Truth
Leaders who talk more than they listen silence the very people they depend on.
In meetings, this shows up as interruptions, rushed conclusions, or a CEO who always has the “final word.”
Teams disengage, innovation stalls, and trust erodes.
The strongest leaders discipline themselves to listen first, speak last, and act only after they have truly heard.
Reflection (Weekend Question)
When did you last silence your own voice long enough to truly hear someone else’s?
Weekly Challenge
In your next meeting, speak last. Let every team member share before you do. Watch how the quality of ideas—and the trust in the room—changes.
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