This is the second in a series of three articles looking at 'being a good people person'. Not everyone is a natural 'people person' and even those that appear to be have often worked on their weaknesses and more importantly capitalised on what they do best. Whether working in a team, managing a project or creating new business the need to interact with, engage with and influence others is vital to success.

Three aspects of 'people stuff' are availability, approachability and accountability. In this issue of Leadership Matters we will be investigating the issue of approachability.

Approachability:
I will never forget a conversation I had with a young woman a few years ago. She was working on a project team with me in Africa and we began talking about her aspirations for future work opportunities and the challenges she faced. We talked a bit and I offered what I hoped were some pearls of wisdom for her to consider. She expressed her thanks and I replied by inviting her to give me a call anytime she wanted to talk. Then she said 'Oh I'd never do that', 'Why?' I replied, 'Because you always look way too busy to want to waste time thinking about my little issues'. The comment stung me and has provided something of a constant rebuke to me ever since, for in truth an unapproachable leader is no leader at all.

Approachability is an essential part of a leaders 'ambience'. If some of us are honest the reason people might feel we are not approachable is because that is exactly what we want people to think. Our words, actions and attitudes scream 'Keep out of my face'!!. I'd like to be sensitive and understanding about this, but frankly if that is who you are, you are just out of order. Approachability goes with the territory; it is an important part of your role. So deal with it, get over it and get on with leading, as your team needs you to - if not get a different job!!!

Our job as leaders is to create a climate of openness whereby people feel they can come and say what needs to be said and what we need to hear. Often senior leaders find themselves isolated, not knowing anything and then feeling very frustrated when they make them selves look silly because they didn't have the right information. Ask yourself a question - it could be that you need a more efficient system or process in place. On the other hand it could be that you have a 'closed door' personality which makes others fearful of approach or they feel it not worth the effort; 'they'd not listen anyway.'

Listen:
That leads us finally to a key aspect of being approachable - listening. Ernest Hemingway has some great advice: 'When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.' Communication is listening and so if you want to be the kind of person that people will approach with their ideas and their difficulties, you need to be a good listener. Larry King also has some wise words: "I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening." This is as much about ensuring you 'look' like you are listening than just the actual process. Every leader must be constantly seeking to learn, always asking questions, always listening and always wanting to know and understand more. He or she will get if their staff see them as approachable.

Reflective Questions
When someone comes to speak to me, do I really listen?
What do my words, actions and attitudes say to people?
How do I make myself more approachable?

Phil Wall
CEO