By Mike Myatt, Chief StrategyOfficer, N2growthShut-up and listen...While my message today is very direct, it's alsovery simple: talk less and listen more. The best leaders areproactive strategic listeners. They recognize that knowledgeand wisdom are not gained by talking, but by listening. Take amoment and reflect back on any great leader that comes tomind...you'll find that they are very adept at reading betweenthe lines. They have the uncanny ability to understand what isnot said, witnessed, or heard. Beinga leader should not be viewed as a license to increase thevolume of rhetoric. Rather astute leaders know that there isfar more to be gained by surrendering the floor than by commandingit. In this age of instant communication, everyone seems tobe in such a rush to communicate what's on their mind thatthey fail to realize everything to be gained from the minds ofothers. In today's post I'll quickly examine the merits ofdeveloping your listen skills.Simply broadcasting your message adnauseum will not have the same result as engaging in meaningfulconversation, but this assumes that you understand that thegreatest form of discourse takes place within a conversation, andnot a lecture or a monologue. When you reach that point inyour life where the light bulb goes off, and you begin tounderstand that knowledge is not gained by flapping your lips,but by removing your ear wax, you have taken the first step tobecoming a skilled communicator.The next step in the process islearning where to apply your new found listening skills. Listen toyour customers, competitors, your peers, your subordinates, and tothose that care about you. Ask people how you can become a betterleader and then LISTEN. Take your listening skills online, anddon't just push out Tweets and Facebook messages, but ask questionsand elicit feedback. Use your vast array of social media platforms,toolsets and connections to listen. If you follow this advice notonly will you become better informed, but you'll also become morepopular with those whom you interact with. And finally, ifyou're ready for advanced listening skills, don't just listento those who agree with you, but actively seekout dissenting opinions and thoughts. Listen to thosethat confront you, challenge you, stretch you, anddevelop you. Good luck and good listening.