Topic Teasers Vol. 162: How to Hear With Your Eyes

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  Communications Management   Leadership  

In meetings with my team and my customers (and even sometimes with family members), I often feel that what they are saying is not truly expressing their thoughts and feelings. I’m trying to be a more inclusive manager, more respectful and appreciative of what my team knows over and above my personal understanding of complex technical issues (or more elusive solutions to project roadblocks). But if they won’t be honest with me, how can I be the leader I aspire to be​?

A. It sounds like you are getting a little too “touchy-feely” in team meetings. This may make people uncomfortable and lead them to not participate openly and fully in the conversation. Wait until after the meeting and confront each person one on one to demand that they share with you anything they know or have learned from past experiences or projects. It is their job to disclose every bit of knowledge they bring to the table from current or earlier project experiences.

B. You are off to a good start as a project manager by realizing that you need the honest and insightful input of the people on your team. New light on problems and their solutions might also flow from your customers, people from internal departments in your organization, and from other…

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