The Power of Listening: Are you listening to your team?

Sometimes leaders get stuck in thinking that they need to tell, command, motivate and forget that listening is one of the most important skills of a leader and yet it can often be overlooked.  Why?

Good listening is essential for building trust.  

Team members are more likely to trust a leader when they feel truly heard (and seen). You are sending the signal that their ideas,  opinions and even concerns are valued by you and so they will feel more able to share them with you. 

Listening means creating time to hear what the team has to say and not to be in a hurry to reach a conclusion, move on, react, or create action.  

This can be tricky in the fast paced world we live in today where we can be in such a hurry to find the solution and we may inadvertently just hear from the loudest members of the team, whereas the quieter ones may have valuable insight to offer if make time to seek out and listen to their thoughts.    

It improves communication and relationships (no brainer!)

Listening is a vital and important element of good communication.  When you listen well you gain a deeper understanding of what is going on as well as the underlying emotions and concerns that may be present.  This is vital for resolving conflicts, providing constructive feedback, and addressing issues before they escalate. 

When leaders listen to all sides and understand the root causes of the conflict, they can address the issues constructively, find common ground, and implement solutions that satisfy all parties involved.  

Listening also enables you to connect on more than just a transactional level, if you listen to your team members you know them better and have a deeper relationship with them, which means you’ll be better able to support them through challenges.

Listening encourages creativity and engagement (which leads to better ideas)

People who feel listened to are much more likely to share their thoughts and ideas.  Leaders who give time to listen to different thoughts and ideas and enable everyone in the team to have a voice, will find that you will get more diversity of thinking and ideas.  You’ll also get people who are invested in the journey you’re embarking on, and take more ownership of it  because they’ve been involved in developing the solution.

Listening makes you more adaptable

When we are moving quickly towards our goals, effective listening helps leaders stay informed about the challenges and opportunities facing their teams and organisations. 

It enables them to gather valuable insights and feedback, change course on strategic decisions when they are not working and pivot where necessary.  Leaders who listen are better prepared to guide their teams through transitions and uncertainty.

Want some tips on better listening you can practise with your team NOW?  Then click HERE to get the PDF.