In an old story, a newly married man visits his minister seeking advice on a problem at home. "Father, all my wife seems to want to do is talk about our relationship," he says. "Morning, noon, and night, she wants to have conversations about our relationship. It's exhausting. Please, Father, how do I convince her that we don't need so many conversations about our relationship."

"My son," says the minister, "you have it all wrong. Conversations are the relationship."

Many people in leadership roles have the same misunderstanding about conversations. They treat conversations with their followers as tiring interruptions or distractions. But in fact, leadership is all about the conversations we have with people. Without conversations, leadership is nothing more than bureaucracy.

Until you master the art of conversations – both the listening and the speaking aspects – you will never master the art of leadership. Bookmark this post on del.icio.us