A couple of years ago I made a post about listening as a key leadership skill.[i] Because we live in turbulent times where partisanship and conflict lead people to often fail to communicate well, let’s revisit this skill, focusing on listening in the workplace.
As leaders we tend to communicate from a position of “knowing what’s best” and fail to effectively apply emotional intelligence to our interactions with others. This is a big mistake because people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care about them. Steve Gutzler has a great list of six ways you can develop your listening skills:[ii]
1. Give 100% attention and extraordinary eye contact
Undivided attention speaks volumes about how you value the person you are having a conversation with.
2. Avoid interrupting
Give people time to fully express themselves.
3. Find meaning and understanding
Hearing words being transmitted is only half of the equation—seek the meaning behind the words being spoken.
4. Uncover the deeper need
If you show people how much you care, you’ll be amazed by how much they share and openly tell you.
5. Suspend Judgment
Don’t jump to conclusions or judgment. You will gain far greater respect by avoiding judgment.
6. Always make listening your #1 priority
Listening communicates care, interest, value, respect, humility, and graciousness—A good list to build personal success around.
Putting these practices into your leadership skill set will go a long way to building trust and productive communication in your workplace (and in your personal life, too!). Make a commitment today to review and improve your listening skills.
[i] Listening is a Fundamental Leadership Skill – Court Leader
[ii] Six Ways to Develop Your Listening Skills – Steve Gutzler
Court Leader 
Critical and active listening
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