Do you hear or actively listen to your colleagues?
Listening is a powerful leadership tool. If you don’t listen, you miss key insights into your team’s feelings, thoughts, ideas or wellbeing.
5 listening leader tips:
- Don’t interrupt. Be sure your team member has finished what they are saying before you respond. If you accidentally interrupt, apologise and ask them to continue.
- Ask questions, hear responses. Asking careful questions and listening intently to the response is the best way to find out more.
- Nod and paraphrase. Confirming that you understand someone’s ideas or responses will help them to feel heard and supported.
- Eyebrows and arms. Think about what you do with your eyebrows and your arms while you listen. These body parts can give away a lot about what you are thinking.
- Concentrate. If your mind wanders while someone is talking, it’s more apparent than you think. Maintain focus by reminding yourself how important it is to listen to this person.
How could you incorporate these into your listening toolkit?
If you are not in a position to listen fully, let your colleague know and set a time to come back to them.
