LISTENING IS THE OVERLOOKED TOOL OF LEADERSHIP

Listening increases the value and impact of your words. Focus on actively paying attention to the speaker, maintaining eye contact, avoiding interruptions, asking clarifying questions, showing nonverbal cues of engagement, and trying to understand the speaker’s emotions and perspective by empathizing with them.

"The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply." Stephen R. Covey

1. Listen to connect.
2. Listen to learn.
3. Listen to explore.

How to improve listening:

1 .  Declare a specific intention.

  • A squishy intention like, I’m working to listen better, isn’t actionable.
  • I’m working on listening that lets others feel heard.

2 .  Seek feedback.

  • What do I do – when you are talking – that helps you feel heard?*
  • What do I do – when you are talking – that gives you the impression that I’m not listening?

3 .  Choose one listening skill to practice.

  • Head nodding.
  • Paraphrase your understanding.
  • Ask two questions before making one statement.
  • Pausing when people are done speaking.
  • Ask, “And what else?”