Why Active Listening is a Must-Have Skill for Leaders

And the 3 Essential Mindset Shifts You Need to Make

“Were you even listening?”

It’s likely you’ve been on both sides of this before. Listening is an act of love and respect so it’s no wonder you feel hurt when you’re not listened to. This matters in your personal relationships but is crucial in your work relationships too. And if you’re a leader, you carry the burden of responsibility and representation.

Leaders who fail to demonstrate active listening skills risk more than productivity loss but damaging relationships as well.

Instead of inflating your ego by interrupting others or providing unsolicited advice, aim to develop your active listening skills.

And accept these 3 essential mindset shifts to make progress:

Embrace Curiosity For Productive And Authentic Connections

Be curious not furious.

Your frame of reference impacts how you act in a situation. If you go in with preconceived notions you’re more likely to shape the conversation based on the points you want to get across.

You’ll miss important cues when you’re solely focused on your perspective. The best idea should win no matter who it comes from. When you approach with curiosity you’re participating in a quest for truth. Like the hero’s journey, you cannot do it alone. Embracing this mindset makes you more adaptable and authentic.

Think about your favorite teacher or mentor. What made them stand out? I bet one of those factors was their insatiable curiosity about things — about you.

When you approach with curiosity, your possibilities expand.

Fuel Success Through Clarity and Connection

It all comes down to communication.

Imagine it’s the Super Bowl in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. The score is tied, and your team is driving down the field for a potential game-winning field goal.

The quarterback sees an opening in the defense and calls an audible. Except that the crowd noise and intensity of the moment make it difficult for the offense to hear and get organized. The offensive line doesn’t change their protection and the receivers run the wrong routes resulting in the quarterback throwing an interception. Game. Over.

You may not have a Super Bowl on the line, but miscommunication can have devastating effects in your organization. Effective communication saves you time and energy. When you give your full attention, you pick up subtle cues. So when the ball is in your hands, you have the context to make the most informed decision possible.

Communication is necessary for teams to succeed. This makes it vital for you to provide appropriate body language that lets the speaker know you’re listening like eye contact or nodding your head in acknowledgment (be mindful of varying cultural norms). It also helps to ask questions and paraphrase someone’s words.

Communication is like the oil that keeps a team’s engine running smoothly.

Earn Trust Through Genuine Actions

Can I trust you?

Without trust we have nothing. That’s why we work so hard to maintain our reputation.

It pays to keep your word and show up for others. Whether you recognize it or not you’re always making an exchange with someone. Your time is valuable and so is theirs. When you listen to their concerns or celebrate their successes, it can make all the difference in the world. It’s like doing a trust fall. When someone trusts you, it’s critical to be reliable, trustworthy, and accountable.

Active listening is all about paying attention to the other person. Giving someone your full attention makes them feel secure. It’s about building stock in the relationship bank account, not manipulating it.

Performative acts are becoming tiresome and people trust authenticity. People want more. It’s their way of saying, “Don’t just tell me, show me that you care.”

Conclusion

Make it a habit to imagine everyone having a sign on their forehead that says, “I just want to be heard.”

This contributes to establishing trust and collaboration. All of which is necessary for a team to thrive. Active listening allows you to discover yourself as well. It highlights the necessity of working on your business, not just in it. You’re forced to ask:

- How will I understand the problems of my organization if I never listen? - How can I improve if I don’t know what to improve? - How can I make a difference if I don’t understand my team’s needs?

Leadership is a service business. If you lose sight of your mission to serve and make a positive impact, you need to rethink your strategy. And when your team feels they have some autonomy, input, and the ability to take risks, your organization delivers on its outcomes and responds positively to changes.

Leaders should think of active listening as the glue that holds the puzzle pieces of their teams’ thoughts and feelings together, enabling effective teamwork and success.

Thanks for reading!

Does this relate to you? Maybe you have a different experience. Either way I’d love to get your perspective. Feel free to leave a comment.