Listening Skills

Selective listening is a problem, when we listen only when we have to, what we need to learn is how to listen, even when we don’t want to. Listening means knowing what others have said and what they meant to say, and leaving the speakers comfortable with the feeling that they had their say.

To be a good leader it is very important to develop the ability to listen, when employees say they want their voices to be heard, they are really saying they want leaders who will not just hear them, but really listen to them. Listening goes well beyond being quiet and giving someone your full attention.   It requires you to be aware of body language, facial expressions, mood, and natural behavioral tendencies. 

Empathy is a powerful display of listening.   I realize that many leaders avoid emotional interactions, but the best leaders know how to empathize and make themselves approachable to those who need attention