Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership

November 14th, 2018 Tags: Authenticity, Dexter Montgomery, leadership, Pamela Montgomery
Posted in leadership

Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership

Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership

Have you ever thought about developing better listening skills? Well, if you want to be an effective leader, developing better listening skills is essential.

I learned the importance of developing better listening skills for effective leadership during a successful career as a litigator, policy maker, entrepreneur, and serving on the boards of many community organizations.

I am not talking about whether you can hear or not. Instead, I am referring to the ability to connect with someone because you not only hear what they are saying, but also understand what they are not saying. This often called 360 listening.

Today, I am sharing with you the lessons that I have learned about the importance of developing better listening skills in making me a better a leader. Hopefully, you can learn from my experiences!

1. Developing Better Listening Skills Builds Trust

The ability to connect and to build trust in a meaningful way is a key component of leadership.

I recently read an article by Melissa Daimler, “Listening is an Overlooked Leadership Tool” in the Harvard Business Review.  Ms. Daimler makes an excellent point that, “The most powerful mode of communication is that of two people listening.”

At one time, I thought that as the leader, I should be the person doing most of the talking. However, I realized that I was a more effective leader when I listened and asked questions.

Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership

2. Developing Better Listening Skills Builds Respect

I learned that there is no better way to show respect to another person than to listen to what she is saying. I had to learn to stop looking at emails when a team member came to talk to me. I also had to learn to stop multi-tasking, and to pay attention to the person standing in front of me.

Sometimes, I found myself so worried about getting stuff down, that I forgot about the importance of effective communication with the people who worked with me.

As Steven Covey said in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “Seek first to understand.” I learned to understand by listening. Once I began developing better listening skills, I became a more effective leader.

Below is a checklist that I have developed to help me and my colleagues in developing better listening skills. Hopefully, the checklist will help you as you learn to connect, build trust, and communicate by developing better listening skills.

3. The Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership Checklist™

1. I understand that developing better listening is a skill that I absolutely must develop.

2. When I am listening to someone, I eliminate distractions and give that person my full attention. I am no longer:

• Processing what I want to say as they are speaking
• Jumping to conclusions or making assumptions about what they are trying to communicate
• Interrupting people when I should be listening
• Other__________________________________________

3. As I am developing better listening skills, I am:

• Looking for non-verbal clues
• Asking deep questions
• Thinking before I speak
• Following up on our conversation
• Other___________________________________________

4. I do not hesitate to make notes about conversations I have just had, to remind myself of important details or follow-up actions I must take.

5. I am aware of the three different types of listening, and what differentiates them:

• Internal listening
• Focused listening
• 360 listening

6. I am working hard to practice 360 listening.

7. I understand that developing better listening skills actively builds trust.

Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership

Conclusion

The importance of developing better listening skills for effective leadership can not be overstated. Over a successful career as a litigator, policy maker, entrepreneur, and serving on numerous boards, I have learned from my experiences. Hopefully, you can begin developing better listening skills as you grow as a leader in your job, your business, and your community.

I would love to hear from you about the leadership challenges that you face! Leave me a comment below!

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Pamela Montgomery

I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, helping you create the life of your dreams as you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!