July 2026 Part 4: To avoid missing out on good suggestions
Business leaders need to listen to a wide range of opinions and not miss any important comments or excellent suggestions. It's no exaggeration to say that the most important skill required of a business leader is the ability to listen.
However, humans have feelings of like and dislike. We want to hear the opinions of people we like, but we don't want to hear the opinions of people we dislike. In particular, people we dislike tend to be more critical and harsh in their opinions, so we often end up refusing to listen to them.
However, if you only listen to the opinions of people you like, your thinking will become biased. If a manager only listens to the opinions of subordinates they favor, the company's management will increasingly head in a biased direction.
Managers should listen to a wide range of opinions. They should listen to opinions fairly, without being swayed by personal likes and dislikes. And it is important not to miss important opinions and excellent suggestions.
To avoid missing out on good suggestions, you need to set aside your personal likes and dislikes for a moment. This will help create an environment where your subordinates and those around you can freely express their opinions. If the manager is in a bad mood or angry, subordinates and those around them will be less likely to speak freely. Ideally, it's important to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable talking and making good suggestions.
If managers distance themselves from people they dislike and only listen to the opinions of those they like, the business is likely to deteriorate. To improve the business, let's create an environment where good suggestions are not overlooked.
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