Listen up
The hardest challenge Bastone faces in communicating with hisstaff is being an active listener. As an executive fueled by ideas, itcan be difficult for him to stay quiet while another staff member ispresenting his or her own ideas.
“I’m always pitching,” he says. “I love to be a mover, shaker andinnovator. Sometimes when someone gets on track and wants toshare something with me, it’s like they’re giving me the OK to lift offbecause I’ll take the ball and run with it even though the person isstill talking to me.”
Active listening is Bastone’s self-admitted weakness, and he hasdeveloped some ways to become a better listener.
First, be respectful. Don’t just nod your head, biding your timeuntil you can talk again.
Second, don’t assume you know everything. Pay attention to whatthe person is saying and allow the person to completely finish statinghis or her thoughts. It may be tempting to cut him or her off, buthijacking the discussion is a sign of disrespect. Besides coming off asoverbearing and arrogant, you also risk missing his or her pointentirely.
“Sometimes, you just have to be quiet and listen,” he says. “Eventhough you may have an idea of what the answer is, you’d be really surprised at how resilient people are in providing you with a different perspective.”
Patience is a hard skill to master, especially for executives whohave been lauded throughout their careers for their innovativeideas. But Bastone says it is a skill all great executives need tolearn.
“When I was a young administrator, there was no way that wasone of my attributes,” he says. “After more than 20 years in thisbusiness, I’ve learned there are times when you have to listen. Youmay have to listen to things you don’t agree with or you don’t liketo hear.
“You may not like it, but it does make you a better executive —especially when you acknowledge the difference and when youfind yourself going in a different direction than you normallywould go. That’s how you realize the importance of being an activelistener.”
HOW TO REACH: Mission Hospital, (949) 364-1400 or www.mission4health.com
