How can you improve your listening skills to resolve conflicts in startup development?

1 Why listen well?

Listening well is not just about hearing what others say, but also about showing respect, empathy, and curiosity. By listening well, you can build trust, rapport, and collaboration with your stakeholders, and avoid unnecessary friction or resentment. Listening well can also help you learn from different perspectives, insights, and feedback, and improve your product, service, or strategy.

3 How to listen empathically?

Empathic listening is a skill that involves understanding and sharing the emotions of others. To do this effectively, it's important to suspend your judgment and assumptions, express your empathy and support, and help the speaker find solutions without giving advice or solutions. Additionally, use words, tone, and body language that conveys compassion, respect, and appreciation for the speaker while avoiding minimizing or dismissing their feelings. Doing this will help the speaker discover their own options and resources to take action.

4 How to listen assertively?

Assertive listening is a skill that involves expressing your thoughts and feelings clearly and respectfully. To listen assertively, it is important to use "I" statements and avoid "you" statements. For instance, rather than saying "You are wrong", it is better to say "I disagree" or "I see it differently". This can prevent blaming, accusing, or attacking the speaker, and instead, focus on your own opinions and feelings. Additionally, use facts and examples instead of generalizations. For example, replace "You always do this" with "You did this yesterday". This can provide specific and objective feedback, and prevent exaggerating or stereotyping the speaker. Furthermore, use positive and constructive language rather than negative and destructive language. For instance, replace "This is a problem" with "This is a challenge" or "This is an opportunity". This can create a positive and collaborative atmosphere, and avoid creating a negative and defensive atmosphere.

5 How to listen in different situations?

Listening skills are essential for startup development, and can be honed with practice. When listening to customers, you should be active and empathetic, to understand their needs and show that you care. With partners, you should listen assertively, to understand their goals and show that you value their opinions. When speaking with investors, you should be active and assertive, to understand their vision and demonstrate your confidence. When communicating with colleagues, you should be active, empathetic, and assertive in order to comprehend their roles, ideas, and emotions; showing your support and collaboration. By applying these tips, you can improve your listening skills and more effectively resolve conflicts in startup development.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?