April 26, 2024
One of the top predictors of effective leadership isn’t how confident a leader is, how smart they are, or how experienced they are — though all of those traits certainly help — rather, it’s how trustworthy they are. The key to building trust with your team? Listening well.
Over 64% of human resources professionals identify active listening as the most critical leadership skill. According to Harvard Business Review, active listening is “ when you not only hear what someone is saying, but also attune to their thoughts and feelings.” Not only is it essential to leading others, but listening well is also critical to increasing productivity, reducing mistakes due to miscommunication, boosting problem solving among team members, and so much more.
With all of the noise that constantly surrounds us, from the podcast on your commute, to chatter in the office, to the music your coworker is playing, it can be difficult to practice listening to understand. It’s one thing to hear what’s being said, and it’s another to actually listen and comprehend what that means.
If you’re looking to grow in your active listening skills, check out these tips:
Before you seek to get better at listening, it’s important to acknowledge where you are. Ask yourself what obstacles are most common when you’re trying to listen to others: Are you thinking about other tasks while someone is talking? Do you find it hard to resist interrupting with your perspective? You can even take an online quiz to assess your listening skills or find out what type of listener you are. If you really want to take your awareness to the next level, ask your coworkers, friends, or family for honest feedback on how well you listen.
It sounds simple, but in the age of smartphones and constant digital overload, it can feel difficult to “turn off” the noise during conversations. When your coworker approaches you to talk, make it a habit to turn off your phone’s ringer, place it screen down, and either close your laptop or momentarily silence notifications. If needed, move to a quieter location in your office to truly minimize distractions. Feeling too busy to chat? Ask whoever needs to talk if you can plan a conversation for a later time so that you can focus better.
Curiosity is key to understanding another’s perspective. Ask clarifying questions and repeat back what they say in order to make sure you’re getting the point. For example, “I heard you say XYZ…is that correct?” If you have trouble remembering important details of a conversation, jot down some notes to remember later — just make sure you tell the other person that’s what you’re doing so you don’t seem distracted.
This goes for both you and the other person. As you’re listening, studies show that body language such as mirroring (where you match the other person’s position) and maintaining eye contact are two of the top ways to show you’re actively listening. While the other person is sharing, take a mental note of their body language and facial expressions, as both can clue you into how they’re feeling in the moment. For example, crossed arms can be a sign of defensiveness or fidgeting can signal that they’re nervous. While you can keep these observations to yourself, it can help you understand where the other person is coming from.
Listening well doesn’t mean as much if you don’t follow up. Whether it’s as simple as asking a colleague how their trip was when you know they were out of town, or as serious as making some changes in the workplace due to employee feedback, following up to a conversation is the ultimate test of active listening. Better yet, ask the person who shared afterward if there was anything left unsaid and if they felt heard during your conversation. If you really want to focus on growing as a listener, keep a journal or a notes app with your own reflections or feedback from others on how you’re listening.
As with many workplace skills, active listening takes consistent practice. Continue to check in with yourself after conversations to evaluate how well you listened and understood what was said. Most importantly, focus on being present during conversations and remind yourself that listening is the best way to learn something new or understand someone better. It’s a skill that will serve you well throughout your career!
Written by freelancer Molly Menning.
