A521.4.4.RB - Listening

In your reflection blog, reflect on recent examples when you were an 18-second manager or examples when someone was being an 18-second manager to you. Share how listening in this manner negatively impacted the situation or your relationship with that person. Reflect on how better listening and clarifying language might have positively affected the outcome.

In the book The Servant, the main characters John and Simeon have a discussion about leadership and interrupting.  Previously, John had interrupted Simeon several times before Simeon explains that interrupting sends a disrespectful message that you can't afford to send as the leader.  John feels he is a good listener and has a great deal of respect for Simeon.   Simeon then states that your feelings of respect must be aligned with your actions of respect. (Hunter, p.49)

Two months ago, I left the Support Section to become the Production Superintendent.  I was given a week to train and turn over the programs to my replacement, Todd.  I hadn't met Todd until a few weeks before and found out that we were basically swapping positions.  Support Section was my pride and joy.  I had spent 15 months improving programs and processes, bringing in better Airmen,  building morale.  While I was nervous to start my new job, I was more nervous to hand over the reigns considering I had a lot of projects in-work and big changes in motion. 

The first day Todd came for turnover, I laid out what I wanted to discuss and train him on.  Within seconds he interrupted me to tell me how he has another job lined up.  This immediately sent up red flags.  I wished him luck, as I thought it was the polite thing to do, and continued to go over the programs he needed to learn.  Several times throughout the day, Todd interrupted me.  I also noted that he was pseudo listening.  He would half-listen, derail the conversation, and identify by referring back to his experiences. (McKay, et al., p. 7).  It made me feel like what he had to say was more important and that he didn't care about the section or what I was telling him.  It seemed like he had a hidden agenda.  Throughout the week it was the same each day and he slowly lost my trust and his credibility.

Tom Peters suggests as leaders we should have a commitment to strategic listening. (2009) Reflecting back, I see that he was not listening, especially not strategic listening.  "Strategic listening involves listening not only to what the other person is saying but also empathizing with his/her situations and perceptions at the time of communication." (Agarwal, 2012) I was upset about leaving and nervous about starting a new position. His interruptions showed me that he didn't care.  Furthermore, he failed to learn the ins and outs of the shop and about the shop projects and programs.  Although I was frustrated at the situation, I learned the importance of listening and not interrupting.

Agarwal, A. (2012, May 09). Strategic Listening. Retrieved August 28, 2017, from https://www.projectguru.in/publications/strategic-listening/
Hunter, J. C. (2012). The servant: a simple story about the true essence of leadership. New York: Crown Business.
Peters, T. (2009). Tom Peters' Leadership Thoughts: Listening. Retrieved August 28, 2017 from https://youtu.be/IwB7NAvKPeo
McKay, M., Davis, M., & Fanning, P. (2009). Messages the communication skills book. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.