I don’t know about you, but sometimes I don’t listen (my husband would confirm)! But as a leader, we need to LISTEN! In fact, we need to be active listeners! Being an active listener means that we give our undivided attention to whoever is speaking to us and acknowledging what they are saying.
When we are actively listening, that means that we maintain eye contact, put aside other distractions (don’t be looking something up or answering an email) and give responses. As a leader by actively listening, we are showing that we value what our employees are saying.
So how do we actively listen? They seem easy but are they?
- Be fully present in the conversation
- Avoid distractions
- Show interest – make eye contact and use non-verbal cues
- Listen to understand (don’t respond or judge)
- Allow the speaker to finish without interrupting
- Ask open-ended questions to clarify and encourage further responses
I challenge you that the next time a team member is speaking, try these tips and see what a difference it might make in your employee’s response!
