We've all come across one. The boss who raises their voice before they've established what's happened, jumps straight to blame, demands answers and makes absolutely sure everyone knows they're unhappy. Lots of noise. Very little listening.
And here's the thing: shouting might make people stop talking, but it doesn't necessarily make them start listening. In fact, it often does quite the opposite. People become defensive, stop offering suggestions and eventually learn that keeping their heads down is considerably safer than speaking up. Before long, you have a team that tells you what they think you want to hear rather than what you actually need to know.
But here's a question worth asking if you're in a leadership position. Are you sometimes so busy making noise that you're forgetting to invite feedback? When something goes wrong, do you immediately look for someone to hold accountable, or do you take the time to understand what actually happened? Do you ask questions, genuinely listen to the answers and consider that there might be something you haven't seen?
Because leadership isn't about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about creating an environment where people feel able to use theirs. And perhaps the most uncomfortable question of all is this: What if you're not just reacting to the problem? What if your behaviour is part of the problem?
A little self-awareness can go a long way. So can taking a breath, asking a question and listening to the answer before launching into your next speech. You don't have to win every conversation to be an effective leader. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is shut up and listen.
Over to you... Have you ever worked for someone who confused shouting with leadership? Or, more importantly, have you ever caught yourself doing it?
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