In today’s world, it’s not enough to just be a better listener. You need to be a great communicator as well. The ability to hear things from people other than your own views is an essential skill for anyone wanting to lead a team or build a company. Being able to listen to people and understand what they’re thinking is an essential skill.
WHAT DOES BEING A BETTER LISTENER MEAN?
Being a better listener not only allows you to get a closer look at what someone is thinking, but it also allows you to get a very clear picture of yourself. You’re also more likely to respond thoughtfully and emotionally to others’ questions and insights. The ability to listen allows you to be more empathetic, kind, and considerate. It’s helpful to have a management course on how to be a better listener so you’re comfortable asking questions and giving feedback.
WHY DOES LISTENING MATTER?
There are a ton of benefits to being a better listener:
- You’re more likely to receive positive and constructive feedback
- People are more likely to tell you what they think, are more likely to be heard and inspired by others,
- You’re more likely to receive helpful ideas and objective advice,
- You’re more likely to be understood and see things from others’ perspectives.
GREAT LISTENERS MAKE BETTER LEADERS.
Being a better listener allows you to see things from other people’s points of view. It also helps you see things from their perspective as well. Furthermore, you’re more likely to take a position that is consistent with the views of your colleagues and supervisors without having to sift through a sea of competing viewpoints to discover what you may be missing. This gives you an advantage when you’re leading a team because you’re less likely to overthink a problem. You’re also less likely to hesitate in taking action when someone asks you to do something.
TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.
Just because someone is going to say something that you don’t like, it doesn’t mean you have to silence them immediately without a second thought. Being prepared for these situations where someone is going to say or do things that you don’t like is what being a better listener is all about. You need to keep your attention on the present while everyone else is reminiscing about the past, while you’re waiting for the other person to finish speaking, and while you try to process what they’ve said so you can move on to the next person.
BE COMFORTABLE WITH ASKING FOR FEEDBACK AND IDEAS BEFORE MAKING CHANGES.
Be prepared for feedback and feedback opportunities. You should be comfortable with giving people honest, helpful feedback on a regular basis, even if you don’t like what they’ve said. If you find yourself sounding like a total know-nothing when someone asks you questions or suggests improvements, don’t worry. You don’t have to sit there and do nothing while others process their input. Be able to take help when someone has a question or problem they’re struggling with.
DON’T ASSUME EVERYONE ELSE IS LISTENING.
If someone is not trying to be heard, you may be emotionally or psychologically hurt or even physically depressed because you’re not being heard. It can also mean that you’re not sure how to respond to something someone has to say. Try to be as non-judgmental as possible when someone is trying to tell you about a situation that you’re in. You don’t have to outline the entire situation so they can sort through it in their head and come up with a more appropriate response.
BE EMPATHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS THOSE WHO AREN’T TALKING BACK.
You have to be careful with those who aren’t talking back. This is so you don’t sound like you’re attacking them or are giving them a hard time. You don’t want to sound confrontational or aggressive. Be patient and let them process things through their head. You don’t have to be harsh or use expletives on them.
As leaders, you’re going to have to learn to take things with a grain of salt. Leaders need to be able to see things from the other person’s point of view. This way, they can better share their vision and accept suggestions that will help their endeavour. If someone is not sharing their ideas with you, you can find out why by being listening better.
If you want to lead a team and receive the best results from your employees, you need to be comfortable with being frustrated, having questions, and being unclear on what the company must do to succeed. You also need to be able to see things from someone else’s point of view so you can understand what they’re going through, what they want, and how they can best achieve it.
This is a great skill to learn as you gain better and more advanced leadership skills. You’re also going to be much more likely to succeed when there’s a sense of community and a sense of collaboration between the team members. Being a better listener means you’re more likely to be heard, understood, and inspired by others.
