As a leader in life, are you a good listener to the people around you? The swahili word for "listen" is "kusikilisa" (koo-see-key-lee-zah). Holistic listening and care of the whole person is one of the tenets of African culture.
Teresa Hoover, the first African American woman executive of a major denominational department for 22 years, served as a role model while training numerous colleagues to add listening to their leadership tool kit.
When we open up the channels of communication and really listen, here is the gift we offer to others:
Eyes - I see what you say.
Ears - I hear what you say.
Heart - I feel what you say.
Attention - I value who you are and what you say.
Only when a leader does these things is she or he able to build trust and inspire people to collaborate with them each day.
