Daily Leadership Tip #18: Ask Other People’s Opinions

Continuing with our Daily Leadership Tip Series, we are in Week #3 -- Gaining Cooperation from Others. This is principle 18, Ask Other People's Opinions.

ASK THE OPINION OF YOUR EXPERTS TO GAIN INSIGHT

When we are under the gun, most of us want to take control and begin to order people around. Since time is short, we want to quicken the pace by just telling people what to do instead of asking them their opinion. When we do this, though, we are often missing an opportunity to gain great insights from the people who are on the front line.

One of the hardest things for young people to realize when they get their first leadership position is that they don’t know everything yet. When we are young, we think that our formal education taught us everything we’d ever need to know.

When we get into the real world and realize that we don’t know it all yet, we want to make sure that no one ever finds out.

TO BECOME AN EXPERT, ASK FOR HELP FROM OTHER EXPERTS

The best thing to do in this situation is to admit that you need help or more information. Most people around you will respect you more.

Captain Christopher J. Courtney in his article called “The Successful Lieutenant” said it well, “It is a cardinal error for a lieutenant to be a ‘know-it-all.’ Nothing turns off the troops faster or brings down morale more than a know-it-all lieutenant… Admitting to your platoon sergeant that you do not know something is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of honesty.”

Week #3: Gain Enthusiastic Cooperation.
Principle #18: Ask Other People’s Opinions.

https://www.leadersinstitute.com/daily-leadership-tip-18-ask-other-peoples-opinions/