As your company’s leader, you don’t need to know everything. But you need to know who on your team can get you the answers you need.

Employees appreciate being asked for input, says Elizabeth McCormack, author of The P.I.L.O.T. Method: The 5 Elemental Truths to Leading Yourself in Life. This is especially true if it affects their workload or working conditions, she says. Just make sure you actually listen to what they have to say.

Often when people are “listening,” they really are waiting for the first opportunity to share their story, their opinion or their experience, says behavioral strategist Rob-Jan de Jong.

How to get better

De Jong suggests training yourself to engage in three pure listening conversations a week. They don’t need to be longer than 15 to 20 minutes, and the other person doesn’t need to know what you’re doing. Vow that you won’t try to take over the conversation no matter how much you want to.

“Just keep asking questions and don’t dismiss anything the other person says,” he says. After the conversation, reflect on what you learned. Don’t dismiss any ideas or views just because they don’t align with yours.

More leadership tips

Read McCormick’s article Top 10 Tips to Lift Your Leadership in the PPC Digital Edition.

This article was originally published in the Summer 2018 issue of PPC magazine. Learn more ways to manage and build your painting business at the Sherwin-Williams contractor website