September 3, 2024 - Listening
TOUCHSTONE LEADERSHIP COACHING
LEADERSHIP & LISTENING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
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COMMUNICATION IS HOW YOU GET YOUR PEOPLE ONBOARD!
IT CAN’T BE A ONE WAY STREET.
As a leader, it's essential to keep your team focused and committed to both personal and organizational goals. Effective communication is crucial for your ongoing support. Deep listening should be part of your approach.
The saying, "You have two ears for listening and one mouth for speaking, so listen more than you talk," highlights the importance of this balance. However, it's easy to overlook listening when preparing to communicate with your team. With so much to share, deep listening can often take a backseat.
By fostering an environment where listening is valued as much as speaking, you strengthen relationships, increase engagement, and align your team around shared objectives. Ultimately, achieving a balance between speaking and deep listening will lead to improved teamwork and a more committed, focused organization.
1. Management today is mainly communication.
To make changes, communicate with all stakeholders. First, explain what needs to happen, then listen to feedback to identify their level of understanding and any unexpected issues that may need addressing.
2. Communication means listening and speaking.
How often do we see communication as just one person talking? We’ve likely done this ourselves. True communication happens when both people are engaged.
3. Stop talking, be quiet, and listen.
To share information and understand each other better, we need to stop and listen. There may be silence as the other person thinks about what we said. By not talking, we show respect for their ideas and give them time to understand.
4. Do not interrupt.
Everyone should have the chance to share their ideas and questions. Giving this opportunity shows respect and encourages people to express more because they feel listened to.
5. Pay attention fully when someone is talking.
Communication should include pauses, body language, tone, and volume. It should include an awareness of emotions, creating a shared listening experience.
Interesting Articles
Leadership and Listening
Listening Is an Overlooked Leadership Tool (hbr.org)
The Importance of Listening as a Leader in the Digital Era (betterup.com)
The Power of Active Listening in Leadership - Management Training Institute
6 Ways Effective Listening Can Make You A Better Leader (forbes.com)
Peter Nulty, Fortune Magazine
The journey to becoming a good listener is a lifelong one, and I have found GiANT’s Active Listening Audit to be a helpful tool that I will continue to use.
On a scale of 1-5, the people closest to you (family, friends, coworkers, or teammates) can rate your listening skills based on these five questions:
1. How good am I at taking the time to truly understand?
2. How good am I at asking open-ending questions to draw out what others are really trying to say?
3. How good am I at summarizing what I think I’ve heard from someone, to check I’ve gotten it right?
4. How good am I at using body language to convey interest/attentiveness in conversation
5. How good am I at resisting the temptation to jump in, assuming I know what the other person is talking about?
My challenge to each of us is to use this tool to put our listening skills to the test. Be courageous, ask for brutal honesty, and then listen to the feedback. We can all be better at listening, and we will all benefit from the investment.
“Of all the skills of leadership, listening is the most valuable – and one of the least understood.”
Coaching works. It will make you or someone you know a better leader.
Contact me
Phone: (778) 938-1003
Email: rob.murray@shaw.ca
Calendly: https://calendly.com/rob-murray-coaching-calendar
Touchstone Leadership Coaching, 507-990 LAGOON DRIVE, Vancouver, Canada
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