The “Stop, Look, Listen” slogan is designed to encourage students both young and old to investigate truth claims and issues related to truth. It allows students to stand back and think about ways to obtain information when trying to find out about the truth of something. It’s an interesting and incredibly useful aphorism that encourages students to think critically about the source at hand.
Lessons for children that we could all benefit from!
Stop Look Listen Think is similar in some ways to the safety slogan of a similar ilk, but this has one distinct difference – THINK.
If we turn this saying around and look through a business lens as an Executive or leader, we have the most remarkable reminder and learning of how to communicate with our teams, our staff, and our clients.
Without sounding too brash “grab a cup of coffee, suspend your beliefs, and let’s go”!
STOP:
Stop going into ‘Boss’ mode!
Stop assuming you understand.
Stop thinking that as an executive or leader, you must know all the answers.
Stop thinking that it is your job alone to solve all the problems.
LOOK:
Look for clues as to what is going on for your teams.
Look for details to better understand challenges and gain trust.
Look at body language as it accounts for about 55 percent of communications.
Look to find solutions that your teams will want to implement.
LISTEN:
Listen more than speak.
Listen with empathy. Active and in-depth listening is a wonderful skill to develop.
Listen for clues and repeat what you think you heard to ensure it is correct.
Listen to understand not to respond.
THINK:
Think about what it must be like to be in their world. To walk in their shoes.
Think about ways to improve communication between you, and your team, that will have knock-on effects that improve communication amongst the teams themselves.
Think about ways in which you can facilitate and enhance customer communication.
Think about what needs to change.
All sounds a bit autocratic perhaps, but these simple tactics encourage teamwork, loyalty, commitment, and a vested mindset in ways that cannot be measured.
So, now we THINK!
An employee who feels undervalued, underappreciated, and dismissed for their gift’s contributions, or attributes will struggle to find ways to continue to contribute or worse, slip quietly away into ‘doing’ not ‘performing’, and rarely ‘thinking’.
An employee’s best emerges when they are heard, seen, and understood
When we Stop Look Listen and Think we are empowering our teams, our customers, and ourselves to be open to learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Empowered with new information, we as leaders can chart new courses, and formulate new ways to grow and lead; our very critical thinking brain that we have depended on to this point now has more neurons firing and wiring, which is, always a good thing.
Life gets in the way of living!
It is easy for all of us to become discombobulated by life, to be swept into the current of routines and predictability, and to not take time to uncover truths. This phase reminds us to truly STOP, slow down, and look around. It is for that reason alone that this simple slogan can be so helpful to any leader looking to take the next steps, build bridges, strengthen collaboration, and breed true, lasting partnerships.
Reminders, on occasion, can be an irritating perseveration but when received positively can give rise to taking stock, inspiring thoughtfulness, and mindfulness that in turn creates desired change and growth.
May I politely, and with a smile, remind you to STOP LOOK LISTEN and THINK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY
Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com
4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure.
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