Good leadership starts with listening. Because people often don’t think that executives want to hear their ideas!

The main reasons why employees don’t speak their minds at work…

1. The BOSS’s airs and graces and status symbols!

The boss uses his wealth to establish a two-class society and documents his superior rank, showing all too clearly just how low-level his employees are in comparison.
A prestigious car, a wristwatch befitting his status and tailor-made designer suits. There’s nothing wrong with appropriate style and understated luxury, but you’re at the office, not attending an Oscars ceremony. If you use your wealth to generate envy and resentment among your employees, you’ll soon find yourself short of backing.
And besides, an employee won’t be eager to share their ideas with an aloof boss.

2. Up today, down tomorrow

Employees appreciate reliability and predictability in their superiors. As a leader, you have to make decisions every day. You set the direction and the goals that your company should take. Think about this in advance. Employees will appreciate it if your reliability makes you recognisable as a calm and level-headed person who radiates security, stability and confidence. An employee will not speak his mind to a fickle and inconsistent boss.

3. Being right and wanting to be right

The boss is always right, right? Bosses are infallible: experts who know their way around and are at home in every field. Quit always being right. This demotivates your employees and stymies creativity and the flow of ideas. Have the courage and self-confidence to admit your weaknesses to your staff. That will show your human side – and you should listen to them. In fact, they will often simply know better how certain processes work. After all, you’re sitting right at the source.

4. All are equal, but some are more equal than others

Be honest and keep your word. If you preach water yet drink wine, you’ll be setting a bad example, and in today’s working world, this tactic no longer works. Employees need motivation and inspiration. If you want your employees to take you seriously. Take your employees seriously. If you want to hear ideas, ask for them and listen to the answers.

5. Team player or narcissist?

Without your team, you are nothing. This means that you have to stand up for your employees and have their backs. Communicate a positive team spirit in which everyone is in the same boat, facing the same way and working towards common goals. Motivate your employees to take responsibility and contribute their ideas. Even if a department needs leadership and you don’t shy away from conflicts, you should keep an ear open for your employees. Staff members will not want to present their own ideas to a boss who turns out to be a know-it-all and a narcissist.

6. Appreciation is mightier than the sword

Ruling with a rod of iron over a team of subordinates who do everything you tell them to do. That’s the way, isn’t it?! But it kills all creativity and fatally undermines any willingness to contribute ideas. A lack of appreciation and interest, ego-centred communication and hierarchically managed meetings will undermine dialogue, cohesion, creativity and, last but not least, workflow.

Show appreciation and sincere interest, be a role model with your actions and just be human….

You will find suggestions for values-oriented leadership in the Bohl Academy.