Active Listening
Effective leadership starts with truly hearing those around you. Active listening goes beyond just hearing words—it's about connecting with the speaker, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully. Let’s examine how well we’re practicing our active listening.
Self-Assessment: Active Listening
Please take a few moments to answer the following self-reflection questions. Where can you identify opportunities for personal growth in your leadership?
Do I actively listen when someone is speaking, without cutting them off or thinking about my response too soon?
Do I give the speaker my full attention during conversations?
Am I genuinely interested in understanding the speaker's perspective?
Do I ask questions to better understand what’s being said?
Can I recall key details from recent conversations and discussions?
Do I maintain eye contact and use non-verbal cues to show I’m paying attention?
Do I show understanding and empathy toward the speaker's concerns?
Do I avoid passing judgment or making assumptions about what the speaker is saying?
Reflect on these questions carefully and answer them honestly. Use your insights as a guide to evaluate your active listening skills and identify areas for improvement.
“The quality of our listening determines the quality of our influence.”
One of the most important skills you can practice in both the workplace and your everyday life is active listening. Listening actively means giving your full attention to the person speaking, seeking to truly understand their perspective, and showing genuine interest in what they have to say. In some situations, it requires asking clarifying questions to make sure you’ve understood the speaker correctly.
When you practice active listening, you’re not just gathering information. You’re also using this new knowledge to forge relationships by showing others that they matter, their insights are valuable, their concerns are valid, and they are worth your time. This simple act can transform the dynamics of your workplace, promoting a culture of mutual respect and collaboration.
John, a talented young engineer with a master's degree in construction management, found himself with two job offers from reputable construction companies. Both offered competitive packages, and each would have him reporting directly to the company's CEO.
During the interviews, John noticed a significant difference between the two leaders. The first CEO seemed distracted, making John feel like just another item on their to-do list. When he answered their questions, he felt like they weren't really listening.
In contrast, the second CEO made John feel like the top priority during their meeting. She listened attentively, asked thoughtful follow-up questions, and seemed genuinely interested in John's experiences and goals within the construction industry.
Given the difference in the CEOs' listening skills, John's decision was clear. He accepted the job offer from the second company, confident that he would be working for a leader who valued open communication and respected her team members' opinions.
As this example illustrates, active listening is critical for leaders looking to attract (and retain) talented employees while promoting a culture of open communication and respect. By listening attentively, you can better understand issues, make informed decisions, and show your colleagues that their perspectives are valued. In construction and site solutions, where teamwork and clear communication are crucial, listening can drive success and build a stronger, more connected team.
To truly grasp the importance of active listening in the workplace, we first need to understand the essential elements of effective communication. In every conversation, the participants have two goals: to accurately comprehend the message being conveyed (including both what was explicitly said and the emotions behind it) while showing the other person they are interested, engaged, and compassionate. The second goal is not for kindness’s sake, although that is a commendable motive in itself. Rather, it is due to a basic fact about human nature: when people feel unheard, they withdraw from the conversation.
Active listening allows leaders to detect underlying issues and get ahead of problems while finding opportunities for improvement within their teams and company. It also sets a good example of how to communicate for those you lead, which encourages an environment of open discussion and collaboration. In the end, leaders who listen to their employees are better at directing, helping, and connecting with their employees, driving the growth and success of everyone involved.
John Izzo, author of the book Stepping Up: How Taking Responsibility Changes Everything, believes active listening is crucial to getting the most out of employees:
“The bottom line is that people want to be heard and feel valued… When decisions are made without getting input from people, they tend to hold back their ideas and take less initiative to make improvements.”
Here are some Best Practices for being an Active Listener:
Each is aimed at enhancing the quality of your interactions, ensuring that you are not just hearing, but truly listening to, and connecting with, the people around you.
Be Present: You should be fully present in the moment when listening to others, which means putting away distractions (such as phones or multitasking) and giving the speaker your undivided attention.
Show Empathy: Empathetic listening means understanding and sharing the feelings and perspectives of the speaker. Being empathetic to your team and colleagues will help build trust and rapport.
Be Patient: Active listening requires patience, especially when dealing with complex or emotional issues. You should avoid interrupting and allow the speaker to express themselves fully.
Keep an Open Mind: Being open to different viewpoints and ideas is essential for effective listening. You should not prejudge or dismiss what others are saying but remain open to diverse perspectives.
Use Body Language: You should be aware of their own non-verbal cues, such as maintaining eye contact, nodding, and using appropriate facial expressions to show attentiveness and interest.
Summarize: Skilled leaders can summarize or paraphrase what is heard to confirm understanding and show that they are actively engaged in the conversation.
Ask Questions: Make sure to ask relevant questions to seek clarification or gather additional information. This demonstrates your commitment to understanding the speaker's point of view.
Show Respect: Leaders should approach all interactions with respect for the speaker, valuing their input and opinions, even when there are disagreements.
Follow Up: After listening, you should follow up on any commitments or actions discussed during the conversation, demonstrating that you take the speaker's concerns seriously.
“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”
Mastering the art of active listening opens the door to richer, more authentic interactions. It invites a world where conversations are bridges to greater empathy, where every voice is heard, and where the depth of human connection is celebrated. Embrace these practices and embark on a journey toward becoming not just a better listener, but a better communicator, leader, and friend.
Reflection Questions:
What listening challenges do you face, and how do they impact your team or coworkers?
What strategies can you use to make sure that you’re fully present and engaged in conversations?
Has there been a time where you didn’t engage in active listening practices, and as a result, there was a negative consequence? What could you have done differently?
To drive your understanding of active listening to the next level, explore these valuable resources. They'll help you expand your leadership skills and boost your ability to communicate effectively.
The Art of Active Listening: The Harvard Business Review Guide
Amy Gallo (video, 7:38)
Strategic Listening: How Managers, Coworkers, and Organizations Can Become Better at Listening
Mats Heide and Anette Svingstedt
Active Listening in the Workplace: How it Makes You a Stronger Manager
The Art of Listening
Simon Sinek (video, 5:12)