Despite what Machiavelli said, great leaders don't have to be feared. They don't even have to be loved.
According to the co-founder of Google's career mentoring program, they just have to listen.
Jenny Blake, a career strategist who has helped more than 1,000 people at Google advance at work, says that trying to solve a problem immediately can sometimes do more harm than good.
"One of the biggest mistakes that I see managers making is immediately jumping in to give advice or trying to troubleshoot in the middle of a career conversation," Blake says, "rather than really [asking] open ended questions."
According to Blake, 75 percent of complicated or tough conversations should be listening and only 25 percent should be giving advice.
"Great leaders and managers make listening a priority," Blake tells CNBC. "Not just any listening, active listening." Like Ron Swanson from NBC's "Parks and Recreation," who often offers just the right amount of sage advice after lending a sympathetic ear.
By taking a step back and listening, you get a better sense of the problem. You can then make better decisions.
To get a better sense of what your team members need, Blake recommends asking these open ended questions in one-on-one meetings:
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What's working best in your role?
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What strengths are you most excited about developing?
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When do you feel most in the zone?
An independent survey of 3,100 workers, ranging from junior employees to CEOs, found that great leaders foster a culture of respect and motivation.
Listening, Blake says, is one of the easiest ways to foster that type of environment.
For more great advice, check out Blake's book "Pivot: The Only Move that Matters is Your Next One."
