Candido Botelho Bracher is the former CEO of Itau Unibanco which is Brazil’s largest bank with around 100,000 employees around the world. When I asked him for his best piece of leadership advice he said “listen more than you talk.”
In today’s fast-paced business environment, effective communication is essential for success. One of the most important, yet often overlooked, aspects of communication is listening. Leaders often feel the need to talk, communicate, and delegate in order to maintain control and assert their authority. However, this constant talking can hinder their ability to truly understand the needs and concerns of their team members. By actively listening, leaders can foster a more open and collaborative environment, where team members feel heard and valued. This, in turn, can lead to increased trust, higher levels of engagement, and better overall performance.
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A study conducted by the Harvard Business Review found that leaders who exhibit strong listening skills are perceived as more effective, influential, and trustworthy. Furthermore, a report by the International Listening Association revealed that poor listening is the cause of 60% of all workplace errors and misunderstandings.
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