In a candid conversation at a GE-hosted industry event in New York City, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi unveiled a leadership secret that might surprise many – the paramount importance of being a good listener.
Khosrowshahi, a 54-year-old executive known for his leadership in the tech world, emphasized, “Listening is such an underappreciated skill.” Despite countless courses on executive leadership, he noted a glaring absence of training on this critical skill. He went on to share a universal truth he’s observed, saying, “The higher you go in a company, the less you actually know about what’s really happening on the ground.”
Speaking alongside Ford CEO Jim Farley, Khosrowshahi stressed the significance of “walking the halls” and engaging with employees from different departments to foster a positive and productive work environment. He challenged the prevailing approach of managing solely through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), highlighting the importance of understanding the product and its creation process.
Remarkably, during the peak of the pandemic, Khosrowshahi personally took the wheel as an Uber driver to gain firsthand insights into and enhance the driver experience.
This isn’t the first time Khosrowshahi has extolled the virtues of listening as a pivotal leadership skill. In a recent Wall Street Journal interview, he credited media mogul Barry Diller, one of his mentors, for teaching him the value of active listening. Khosrowshahi praised Diller’s commitment to learning from others during meetings.
Psychologist Sarah Sarkis, who collaborates with Fortune 100 executives at Exos, a performance coaching company, concurred with Khosrowshahi’s perspective. Sarkis noted that exceptional achievers excel in communication, with active listening being a vital and often underrated component.
Sarkis shared valuable advice on how to enhance one’s listening skills at work. She recommended practicing reflective listening, which involves summarizing what you’ve heard and confirming its accuracy with the speaker. Additionally, she advised asking open-ended questions when you find yourself losing focus or not fully comprehending the conversation.
While becoming a better listener may require practice, Sarkis emphasized the immense benefits, concluding that “there’s so much more you can accomplish when the people you work with feel seen, heard, and supported.”
