Listening to Lead

November 11, 2025•4 min read

Listening to Lead: Three Ways to Strengthen Your Leadership “Ship”

InThe 3 Ships: Relationships, Leadership, and Partnership, I wrote that“the best leaders don’t just speak with clarity — they listen with intention.”Leadership is not about having all the answers, but about creating space for others to be heard, valued, and understood. Listening is the foundation of connection — and connection is the foundation of every great team.

Here are three ways all leaders can become better listeners and, ultimately, better leaders:

1. Listen to Understand, Not to Respond

Too often, we listen with our next sentence already forming in our head. Great leaders pause. They stay curious. They focus on the other person’s words, tone, body language, and emotion. As I wrote inThe 3 Ships,“Listening is not a waiting game — it’s a leadership gift you give to someone else.”When people feel truly heard, trust grows, and with trust comes the courage to innovate, question, and engage deeply.

2. Create Quiet in a Noisy World

Leadership is filled with distractions — emails, meetings, notifications, and competing priorities. Yet listening requires presence. Make intentional time to listen without interruption: a walk with a colleague, a phone call without multitasking, or five quiet minutes before a difficult conversation. The best leaders know that the quiet moments often reveal the most meaningful truths.

3. Reflect Back What You Hear

Listening isn’t passive — it’s active. After someone speaks, summarize what you’ve heard:“What I’m hearing is…”or“It sounds like you’re saying…”This simple practice not only clarifies communication but also communicates respect. It shows that you care enough to get it right. AsThe 3 Shipsreminds us,“People won’t always remember what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel — especially when they feel heard.”

Becoming a better listener is one of the most powerful ways to grow as a leader. When you choose to listen with empathy, patience, and purpose, you build stronger relationships, a healthier culture, and a more united crew aboard your “leadership ship.”

The journey begins with a simple decision: to slow down, to listen, and to lead through understanding.

Closing Thought

If you would like me or someone from our RLR Team, to speak or work with you, your school, or your school district in 2026, please contact us at www.randyrussell.org. We're currently scheduling into 2026 and 2027.

🙌Five-Star Support

We’re grateful for the incredible feedback from our community! Here’s one of the latest five-star reviews that reminds us why we do what we do.

Are you ready to develop or update your Strategic Plan in 2025-26?

Let RLR Leadership Consulting help you and your school/school district with your Strategic Planning and Goal Setting. We have the capacity to help one more district this year!

Our experts have helped dozens of schools, school districts, and businesses develop their Strategic Plans and Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) through our highly interactive and engaging process which includes all of your stakeholders.

One Washington Superintendent shared, "What sets RLR apart from others is that they bring a rare combination of strategic insight, emotional intelligence, and practical experience. As a superintendent, I seek consulting services that deliver tangible value to both the system and its students—and that was consistently delivered."

Contact us today at RLR, if you would like to learn more, or if you would like to talk with a school district or agency who has partnered with us.

Who's In Your Inner Circle?
RLR Leadership Consulting and The CORE Project

Think about the people closest to you. The ones you share ideas with, lean on for support, and let influence your decisions. That group—yourinner circle—shapes how you see yourself, the choices you make, and even the risks you’re willing to take.

Sometimes, those relationships give you energy and push you forward. Other times, they hold you back. That’s whyRLR Leadership ConsultingandThe CORE Projecthave teamed up to createYour Inner Circle—an opportunity to pause, reflect, and intentionally shape the connections that matter most.

In this experience, you’ll:

Identify who truly belongs in your circle
Learn how to set healthy boundaries when needed
Build trust that actually lasts
Choose connections that make you stronger

Because the truth is, leadership isn’t just about strategy or skills—it’s about people. And the people closest to you can either empower your growth or limit your potential.

We’d love for you to join us. As a special opportunity, use code Randy15 for a discounted price—but hurry, this offer won’t last long.
https://thecorepro.com/coregroups/p/your-inner-circle-curriculum

Your circle matters. Choose it wisely.

If you would like me, or someone from our RLR Team, to speak or work with your school and/or school district, please contact us atwww.randyrussell.org.