The Importance of Effective Listening and How to Apply It
The Importance of Effective Listening and How to Apply It
Being a leader is tough. Listening as a leader is even tougher. But, if you’re reading this article, then the chances are that you’re interested in understanding your workers better - in which case, congratulations! Openness and receptivity is one of the first steps to effective listening, which this article will guide you through today.
Why listening effectively is so hard for leaders
Employees are inclined to feel like they are obliged to listen to their leaders, unfortunately, not the other way round. Even when probed for input, it’s common for workers to withhold parts of their thoughts that they might perceive to be offensive to their superiors.And the reality is, to a certain extent, this dynamic is unavoidable. Even in today’s workspaces where flatter hierarchies are often encouraged it’s only human nature to want to keep people at ease and some sort of chain-of-command is essential for organisations to work efficiently.To make matters worse, leaders often have too much on their plate to provide their workforce with personalised attention. Between settling day-to-day tasks, reporting to the board of directors, and making sure that their employees are keeping up with their tasks, mid-tier managers are constantly caught in a juggling act.The unfortunate aftermath is, 86% of employees do not feel heard at the workplace.This sentiment is especially prevalent amongst younger workers, parents, and essential workers, who may find their opinions being dismissed in favour of individuals who are perceived to have more experience, or greater bandwidth to contribute to company projects.
How listening benefits company morale, productivity, and the bottom line
Instead of blindly accepting instructions, listening encourages two-way flow of communication along the chain-of-command, priming employees to contribute their ideas and be receptive to that of others.The rewards of effective listening are not to be underestimated. When done right, active listening creates a safe environment for sharing and makes leaders feel more accessible. Executing this consistently over time creates a positive feedback loop where employees are more willing to step forward - simply because their ideas were listened to.Beyond brightening the day-to-day work atmosphere, companies can also stand to reap tangible benefits from a culture of openness.
- 7 in 10 employees report feeling more effective at work when their opinions are heard.
- 88% of organisations perform well financially when their employees feel a sense of belonging from having their opinions valued.
Effective listening broken down into 3 simple components
Listening is a demonstrable skill that goes beyond just passive reception. Effective listeners know how to communicate trust, respect, and empathy as they allow the speaker to comfortably share their ideas. Here are a couple of things habitually practised by leaders who know how to listen.
- Positive body languageMost people don’t appreciate when the person they are talking to gets distracted. People can tell when you’re not interested, even through a screen. You’ll want to show the speaker that you’re giving them your full attention by leaning forward, maintaining eye contact, and every so often injecting nods and verbal cues.
- Don’t seek specific answers - use open ended questionsThe type of questions you ask matters. People can tell when you’re trying to guide them towards answers that you want, and will instinctively back away. Avoid questions that can be answered with a yes or no. That’s a surefire way to bring the conversation to a premature end. Instead, invite your speaker to elaborate by inquiring about their thought process. This will make it easier to find common ground as well, even if you don’t agree with their final answer.
- Be inclusive - encourage the quieter ones to answerHave you ever been in a class where only a handful of students respond whenever the professor asks a question? Open-ended questions are a good start, but you’ll want to hear from different perspectives as well. Instead of waiting for someone to raise their hand, it might be helpful to switch things up once in a while and invite individuals who don’t usually contribute to share their thoughts. The results might just surprise you.
Master listening and other leadership skills with 1:1 sessions at your convenience
Understand the fundamentals of applied active listening through our Whitepaper: The Art of Active Listening & Enabling Employee Engagement Through Communities. With insights from certified psychologists and CoachHub’s top coaches, The Art of Active Listening offers tips on how to incorporate this essential leadership skill into day-to-day situations at work.Through 1:1 coaching sessions, CoachHub’s executive coaching programme can finetune your listening approach and provide a customised framework for you to engage your employees and gain better results. Join the 91% of business leaders who have achieved their goals and targets through CoachHub’s training sessions. Using direct messaging and video coaching, your employees can slot in a session into their schedule, any time of day,and get feedback on-the-go from one of our 3,500 coaches across the globe - all who have been certified by top crediting coaching associations.
FAQ
At CoachHub, we believe in the power of aligning individual growth with organisational objectives. Our dedicated coaches work closely with coachees to ensure that their growth plans are directly linked to your company's overarching goals. This includes addressing specific leadership development needs within different departments or teams, and recognising that each area may have unique challenges and requirements.
To achieve this alignment, we collaborate closely with our clients and their senior leaders, taking the time to understand their organisation's specific challenges, objectives, and organisational culture well. By gaining deep insights into your company's dynamics, we can tailor coaching plans that address the specific needs of different teams and individuals.
Our approach is highly customised and adaptable. We recognise that each coachee has unique requirements, and we leverage our expertise to develop coaching plans that are relevant and effective for all participants, regardless of their role or level within the organisation. Whether it's helping to develop leaders, retain talent, improve leadership skills of middle management, or support C-suite executives, our coaching programs are designed to cater to diverse needs and ensure maximum impact.
By aligning growth plans with your company's objectives, we create a cohesive approach that enhances overall organisational success. Our coaches help coachees identify areas for improvement, set meaningful goals, and develop actionable strategies to bridge the gap between their current competencies and the desired leadership abilities. This alignment not only facilitates personal and professional growth but also contributes to the long-term success of your organisation.
With CoachHub, you can be confident that our coaching programs are tailored to address the specific leadership development efforts within your organisation. By collaborating closely with our clients, we ensure that our coaching plans are relevant, effective, and aligned with your company's objectives, driving growth and excellence across all departments and levels.
At CoachHub, we understand the importance of scalability when it comes to your leadership development program. That's why our programs are thoughtfully designed to accommodate a large number of participants simultaneously, ensuring that organisations of all sizes can benefit from our services. Whether you have a small team or a global workforce, our coaching platform is equipped to handle the scale.
With our advanced digital coaching platform, we bring high-quality coaching directly to employees all over the world. The beauty of our online sessions is that participants can access them from anywhere, at any time. This flexibility empowers employees to engage in coaching without geographical constraints or time zone limitations. Whether they're working from home, travelling for business, or stationed in a different country, our platform ensures that they can easily connect with their coach and participate in sessions at their convenience.
The digital nature of our coaching platform also means that participants can enjoy a consistent and seamless coaching experience, regardless of their location. Through video calls, instant messaging, and other interactive tools, our platform fosters a sense of connection and engagement between the coaches and participants. This virtual environment not only saves time and resources but also allows for regular and ongoing coaching support without the need for in-person meetings.
By leveraging the power of technology, our scalable coaching programs break down barriers and provide accessible coaching solutions to organisations and individuals around the globe. Whether it's a small team or a multinational corporation, our platform ensures that every participant can benefit from high-quality coaching, anytime and anywhere.
Absolutely! CoachHub's leadership development program is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing talent development and performance management initiatives. We understand that every company has its own unique needs and goals, and that's why our coaching sessions are completely tailored to meet those requirements. Whether you're looking to strengthen leadership skills, foster personal growth, or achieve organisational success, our program aligns perfectly with your company's specific objectives.
By customising our coaching sessions, we ensure that each individual receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. We take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and then craft a coaching experience that caters to their personal growth journey. This way, we can provide targeted development opportunities that directly contribute to their success within your organisation.
When you integrate our program with your leadership development efforts and performance management initiatives, you create a powerful synergy. Our tailored approach complements and reinforces your existing efforts, allowing you to build a comprehensive framework for maximising the potential of your workforce. Together, we can create an environment where employees are motivated, empowered, and equipped with the skills they need to excel.
So, rest assured that with CoachHub's leadership development program, you can easily integrate coaching into your existing initiatives and achieve remarkable results that align with your company's requirements.
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