Why Leaders Listen

Recently I was at a 360 workshop where I help participants create their individual development plans (IDP) based on their 360 results. I sat down with one participant who had read through and analysed his report.

He asked me for my perspective before he started creating his IDP. He had highlighted what he felt was important but wanted my input before committing to his outlining his objective.

After reviewing his report I suggested that he focus on improving his listening skills. This was because any improvement in that area would actually help him to close the gaps in his top three development areas. Part of this included not just taking the time to listen but also to be more aware of the body language he demonstrated when he was listening.

Why would improving his listening skills have such a big impact in so many different development areas?  

Well, it’s because listening is such a fundamental skill - it underpins so many key leadership competencies, however like so many key skills it is one that we seldom think about.

It's also a basic skill that we often don't do as well as we think we do.

There are many reasons for this:

Firstly, listening properly means that we actually have to put aside all our distractions and actually focus on the person who is talking to us.

Most of the time if someone is talking we are still doing other tasks, even if it's just mentally running through all that we still have to do.

Secondly, most of the time we are only listening enough so that we can quickly respond and solve this person's issue.

This means we only superficially hear and understand what they are sharing with us.

To really listen we need to let the speaker finish their thought and then take the time to really understand the underlying issues before we start coming up with a solution.

Lastly, we need to think about what our body language is saying when listening.

Am I sitting here and demonstrating that I am present in this conversation?

Or am I clearly showing this person that I'd rather be doing something else?

Am I frustrated with the situation or the person and am I showing that in my face, body or tone of voice?

If you are listening to a person - listen.

If you are unable to spend the time right then and there, say so.

For example, I hate being interrupted mid-task, I just need to complete or finish before I can move on. So if someone wants to talk to me I will say "I'm just going to finish this task and then I'm all yours if you can give me five minutes."

Then when I'm done I can fully put aside all my distractions and actually fully focus on the person in front of me.

So, listening - is it important to you? If it is, what do you think are your biggest barriers to listening actively and what can you do to be a better listener?