James R. Rector
Founder & Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal
Creator of The 3-Minute Leader™
A CEO once told me he was exhausted from “talking leadership” every day, meetings, town halls, emails. But when I asked his team what they valued most about him, do you know what they said?
“He listens.”
Not his speeches. Not his plans. His silence. They trusted him because when they spoke, he didn’t interrupt. He gave them a chair, eye contact, and his full presence.
It’s no different at home. Picture parents at the breakfast table. The newspaper folded. The coffee cup set down. They turn toward their child, eyes focused, listening, not to correct, not to hurry, but simply to hear.
How would that child feel? Listened to. Valued. Loved. All because Mom and Dad sat in the Listening Chair™.
The Insight
Leaders don’t earn trust by talking the loudest. They earn it by listening the hardest. The Listening Chair™ is a reminder that presence, at home or at work, is often more powerful than pronouncements.
Try This Now
At your next meeting, or your next meal, turn fully toward the speaker. Put away distractions. For three minutes, say nothing. Just listen until the other person is finished.
You’ll be surprised how much more people will follow a leader, or a parent, who truly listens.
James Rector
James Rector is the founder and publisher of Profiles in Leadership Journal, a publication that has honored over 2,500 leaders in its 27-year history. His work focuses on spotlighting individuals whose character, courage, and quiet consistency shape the future of leadership.
