9. The Skill of the Translator

Imagine a time when you were having a conversation with somebody and could tell they were hearing you, but not really listening. You look them right in the eyeballs and can tell that mentally, they’re thinking about something else. You don’t feel very good, do you? As a leader, what would happen if employees try to talk to you and they feel the same way? It’s no wonder they say listening is the greatest form of love and respect that you can give somebody. It’s about putting away your technology and practicing active listening. One of the most important skills that every leader should have in the future of work is the skill of the translator. It’s all about listening and communication. These two skills are the most timeless aspects of leadership, but are also changing the most. They’re changing because we have new technologies and new platforms, globally distributed teams, and employees who care about purpose and meaning. All these different things