Chapter 65.
Hear Your People Out

I have more fun, and enjoy more financial success, when I stop trying to get what I want and start helping other people get what they want.

—Spencer Johnson, Business Author

How would we know what kind of a leader you are?

There is one very fast way: We would ask the people who follow you. They know. And what they say is true. You are who they say you are.

So listen to them! Understand them. People are highly motivated by listeners, listeners like you “who get” what their problems are. Always be mindful.

In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh:

When we are mindful, we notice that another person suffers. If one person suffers, that person needs to talk to someone in order to get relief. We have to offer our presence, and we have to listen deeply to the other person who is suffering. That is the practice of love—deep listening. But if we are full of anger, irritation, and prejudices, we don’t have the capacity to listen deeply to the people we love. If people we love cannot communicate with us, then they will suffer more. Learning how to listen deeply is our responsibility. We are motivated by the desire to relieve suffering. That is why we listen. We need to listen with all our heart, without intention to judge, condemn, or criticize. And if we listen in that way for one hour, we are practicing true love. We don’t have to say anything; we just need to listen.

To help your people get what they want, be mindful of them and listen to them until you find out what they really want. Then, make their goals fit inside the team objectives. Show them the link. That’s how long-lasting motivation finally happens.