Two Secrets to Thomas Jefferson's Leadership

Happy Independence Day ( or week ) everyone. During this week of American Independence, we cherish our freedom and, we are thankful for the host of heroes who fought and died for that freedom. Will that age of American heroes come again? One of those men Thomas Jefferson the writer of The Decoration of Independence holds some leadership keys that we can learn and grow from here in America and around the world.

Historian and Biographer Jon Meacham writes of Thomas Jefferson in his book “Thomas Jefferson; The Art of Power, he shares several stories about how Thomas Jefferson was a master of 1) listening and 2) connecting with others so that they would walk away feeling that he was their friend. Jefferson was a master at these two powerful leadership skills that transcended his highborn, privileged, influential status. To illustrate this I have included a quote from the book.

• Quote: “He immersed himself in the subtle skills of engaging others, chiefly by offering people that which they value most: an attentive audience to listen to their own visions and views. Politicians often talk too much and listen too little, which can be self-defeating, for in many instances the surer route to winning a friend is not to convince them that you are right but that you care what they think. A grandson described Jefferson's tactical approach to personal ex-changes. "His powers of conversation were great, yet he always turned it to subjects most familiar to those with whom he conversed, whether laborer, mechanic, or other.”-Thomas Jefferson, The Art of Power.

Application Step: How can you learn from Jefferson? What application steps can you take today to grow in your listening and connecting?