Most people believe they are good listeners, but the reality is that many of us struggle with effective listening. Poor listening skills are one of the main causes of poor communication in leadership, and it can have negative impacts on teamwork, idea generation and trust.
Here are 8 tips to improve your leadership listening:
Stop the internal chatter. Your internal monologue can be a distraction when trying to listen to others. Practice mindfulness techniques like meditation to help quiet the mental chatter and focus on the present moment.
Listen to understand. Don’t just listen to surface level information, but ask clarifying questions and engage in critical thinking to fully understand the conversation.
Set aside your point of view. It’s easy to let preconceived notions or biases get in the way of truly listening to others. Instead, approach conversations with an open mind and be willing to listen to different perspectives.
Be present. Pay full attention to the person speaking and focus on the conversation at hand. This will help you build stronger relationships and create more authentic and meaningful interactions.
Stay interested. Maintain an open and curious mindset while listening, and strive to understand the speaker’s perspective and needs.
Stop multitasking. It’s easy to get caught up in multitasking, but it can be a major distraction when trying to listen to others. Instead, focus on the task at hand and give your full attention to the conversation.
Don’t shoot the messenger. Don’t dismiss or blame the person sharing information, even if it’s something you don’t want to hear. This will help you build trust and respect with your team.
Ask clarifying questions. If you’re not clear on something, don’t be afraid to ask for more information or clarification. This will help ensure understanding and prevent misunderstandings.
In closing, the consequences of not listening are numerous, including a loss of teamwork and camaraderie, missed opportunities and ideas, overlooked logical discernment and cost-saving processes, and a breakdown of trust and respect. Therefore, it’s so important that leaders improve their listening skills.
Lead From Within: Effective listening is a crucial leadership skill that is essential for building strong relationships, fostering collaboration and teamwork.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.