Effective listening is a key leadership skill. My experience is that we can all improve in this area.
A recent article in Harvard Business Review gives us some suggested techniques for improving how well we listen:
#1 – Listen Until the End. Our minds so often race along with reactions to what we are hearing that we can’t wait to jump in to say something. This diminishes the quality of the interaction. Be patient. Some people pause longer than others between sentences. Make sure that the person is done before you say anything.
#2 – Listen to Summarize, Not to Solve. Once again, take your time responding. “Just to make sure I have this right, what I understand that you are saying is . . . Do I have that right?” Let them add and clarify. Make sure you have fully understood before moving on.
#3 – Listen for Both the Relationship and the Content. Most conversations have two dimensions – the relationship you have with the person and the content they share. Following the first two techniques will help with both of these. Also make sure you make very good eye contact to build the relationship. Be prepared to brainstorm possible next steps regarding content.
#4 – Listen for Values. What does this person care about? Listen for this and reinforce it. “Part of what I am hearing is that you really care about . . .” Affirm the importance of these values with the other person.
Each of these suggestions will help us improve our relationships with colleagues, increase how much we learn from our interactions, and make us more effective leaders. Use these techniques to enhance your Mission Impact.
*Ideas for this blog taken from: Schifrin, D. “4 Listening Skills Leaders Need to Master,” Harvard Business Review online, December 16, 2024.
