Achieving Concordance Through Adaptive Leadership: The Power of Deep Listening
In the realm of leadership, the ability to listen deeply and empathetically can be the difference between mere management and transformative leadership. This concept, known as concordance, can elevate the interactions between leaders and their teams, fostering a culture of understanding, trust, and motivation. In this article, we’ll explore how adaptive leaders can achieve concordance and even super concordance through the art of listening, transforming their leadership style and organizational impact.
The Essence of Concordance
Concordance occurs when adaptive leaders listen with such intensity and presence that the speaker feels truly heard and understood. This state of listening is akin to the full moon, shining its energy onto the person speaking, illuminating their thoughts and feelings with empathetic and generative listening. When achieved, the listener loses their sense of self and time, fully immersing in the speaker’s narrative. This creates a profound connection where the speaker feels the leader’s inverse charisma—a sense of being valued and understood deeply.
The Journey to Super Concordance
While concordance is powerful, super concordance takes the interaction to an even higher level. Super concordance happens when both parties are fully connected, experiencing mutual awareness, excitement, and motivation to make an impact. This state is reminiscent of what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi referred to as “flow,” where individuals are completely absorbed in an activity, losing track of time and self, and performing at their best.
In a super concordant interaction, both parties are lifted by their will and skill to create something meaningful together. They are not merely exchanging information but are engaged in a dynamic process of discovery and creation, shaping their emerging futures collaboratively.
Competitive Versus Deep Listening
To understand the path to concordance and super concordance, it is essential to distinguish between competitive and deep listening. Competitive listening occurs when individuals are more focused on planning their response than truly hearing the speaker. This mode of listening is characterized by a reflexive desire to add value through interruption, often driven by a stream of consciousness aimed at decision-making rather than discovery.
On the other hand, deep listening is the cornerstone of achieving concordance. It requires the listener to switch from talking mode to listening mode completely. Interruptions in this state are not about taking control of the conversation but are part of a shared journey towards understanding and co-creation. Both parties experience a state of flow, generatively creating their emerging future together.
The Adaptive Leader’s Key Capability: Listening
The number one capability of an adaptive leader is listening. Effective leadership is not about always having the right answers but about creating an environment where team members feel heard, valued, and motivated. In most conversations, individuals interact like waning and waxing crescents, each sharing their perspective without truly switching to listening mode. This creates a fragmented exchange where genuine understanding and connection are rare.
Adaptive leaders, however, strive to achieve concordance by demonstrating that they are truly listening. They engage in deep listening, losing themselves in the conversation, and fully connecting with the speaker. This practice not only brings the speaker closer but also enhances the leader’s inverse charisma, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.
Practical Steps to Achieve Concordance and Super Concordance
- Be Present: Focus entirely on the speaker, setting aside your thoughts and agenda. Show through your body language and responses that you are fully engaged.
- Empathetic Listening: Listen with empathy, seeking to understand the speaker’s feelings and perspectives. Reflect what you hear to validate their experiences.
- Generative Listening: Move beyond empathy to generative listening, where you and the speaker cocreate new ideas and solutions. Encourage a collaborative dialogue that inspires creativity and innovation.
- Cultivate Flow: Strive to create an environment where both parties can enter a state of flow. This involves being open, curious, and willing to explore new possibilities together.
- Practice Consistently: Achieving concordance and super concordance requires consistent practice. Make deep listening a regular part of your leadership approach, and continuously seek to improve your listening skills.
Concordance and super concordance are powerful states that adaptive leaders can achieve through the art of deep listening. By fully engaging with their teams, demonstrating empathy, and fostering a collaborative environment, leaders can transform their interactions and create a culture of trust, motivation, and innovation. As you strive to become an adaptive leader, remember that listening is not just a skill but a profound way to connect, inspire, and lead.
Reading and Citations:
Peter Block, The Answer to How is Yes, Acting on What Matters
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – Flow Psychology
Daniel Coyle, The Culture Code, The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups
