How can you use active listening to create a positive work environment?

Effective listening is more about just nodding attentively; it’s about adding insights and creating moments of mutual discovery. For leaders, listening is more than just an auditory function. It’s more about forming connections and helping your people walk away with awareness, excitement and motivation to make that impact. Leaders who have harnessed the skill of focused attention, send those emotional signals that create an atmosphere of connections that surround the conversation. This happens when its LESS ABOUT YOU, when the leader has the ABILITY TO PAUSE COMPLETELY, shows POISED STILLNESS, and truly SEEING the other PERSON from THEIR POSITION.

Active listening means listening and not doing something else at the same time. Your people will feel it. They know when you are interested or thinking about something else.

Simon Sinek has delivered a great piece on ‘Active Listening’ if you haven’t watched it already, I’d highly recommend. The art of active listening, takes practice, but when you’ve mastered it, the depth of insight one gains is magnified. When a person is truly heard, barriers are broken down, trust is strengthened and people feel more connected. This is without doubt one of the biggest competencies in leadership.

Active listening is listening with presence and listening to understand i stead of listen to react! Active listening is about listening with all senses, showing that we listen, ask to clarify and open the discussion to increase discovery.

Active listening is essential for leaders, as it respects team members' thoughts, nurtures an open atmosphere, stimulates creativity, and harnesses valuable insights. Respect and Validation: Active listening is a fundamental way for leaders to show respect for their team members' thoughts and ideas. Creating an Open Environment: It encourages team members to open up, express themselves freely, and feel valued. Fostering Creativity: Active listening can be a catalyst for creativity, as team members feel empowered to share their innovative ideas. Harnessing Beneficial Ideas: It enables team members to contribute valuable and beneficial ideas, which can lead to improved solution and outcomes.

Here are tips for active listening that I find most helpful: 1. Make and maintain eye contact to show that you are fully engaged in the conversation, but be mindful not to make the other person uncomfortable by staring. 2. Keep an open and relaxed posture. Don’t cross your arms or display defensive body language. 3. Don’t interrupt or finish the speaker's sentences. Allow them to express their thoughts fully before responding. 4. Ask open-ended questions that encourage speaker to elaborate on their thoughts and feelings. 5. Avoid making assumptions about what the speaker is saying.

I disagree that leaders should try to imitate good listening physical signs such as maintaining eye contact or nodding your head. The foundation to practicing active listening is your mindset and focus. By staying curious about what others have to say, and focusing your energy on that person instead of your phone, the latest task, or your computer, you will naturally show up in a way that shows you are listening. We've all been on the receiving end of approaching a leader who kept moving or looking around distractedly when we asked to speak. If you don't have time or focus, it's best to ask someone to come back at another time. Otherwise, you can inadvertently communicate that what that person has to say isn't important.

To truly listen as a leader: 1. Stay Open-minded without judgement: Approach conversations with an open heart and mind. Push aside any negative thoughts. 2. Be in the Moment: Clear your mind and focus solely on the person speaking. Give them your full attention. 3. Observe Body Language: Often, what's not said speaks volumes. Notice non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and gestures. 4. Check Understanding: Occasionally repeat back / paraphrase what you've heard. It shows you're paying attention. 5. Show You Get It: If someone sounds upset or happy, acknowledge that. It makes them feel understood. 6. Say Thanks: Always thank someone for sharing. It builds trust. Active listening builds stronger teams and fosters trust.

Leaders sometimes feel superior due to their position or experience. That's why it's crucial to practice humility and recognize that every team member has valuable insights to contribute. We also need to work on being patient and providing employees with the time and space they need to express themselves.

In my experience, one of the biggest barriers to active listening is too many meetings. Microsoft recently reported on research that showed that back-to-back meetings reduce our ability to focus and engage. It's exhausting, and it is difficult to code switch between project meetings, group meetings, one-on-ones, and more. Active listening is a challenge when we are in this state of mind. So, review your meeting schedule regularly and look for meetings you can cut, condense, or delegate to someone else. Your brain will thank you and so will your reports.

Like everyone, leaders don't listen well when they are hurried or preoccupied. We need to justify and prioritise taking time to listen, recognising the long-term value it will create by cultivating trust and effective cooperation.

One being feel Heard other has to be Silent and is possible with rearrange the word Listen. 1) Develop silent zone in office premises and nomiate responsibility to authority, any employee come and sit in office in next 5 to 10 minutes authority Listen him carefully and record the conversation and share to concern for actions without being single questions asked, simple one way communication in 360 degree perspective. One feel being heard and implement 50% grudges resolved rest by action. "Lesser the grudges healthier the environment", 2) Drop box arrangement also help. 3) Company has to implement journaling on particular portal, the details of story speaks innovation and creativity for others 4) Saturday one day camp for EQ/IQ problem.

In my opinion, active listening alone is not enough to create a positive work environment. There are also other aspects that influence our work culture and our relationships with our team: - First of all, to build trust, we need to learn to communicate positively so that employees feel comfortable sharing their opinions without fear of repercussions. - Taking action and following up on what has been shared matters more to the team than just being listened to. This shows how much we care about their opinions. - Last but not least, as leaders, we should actively seek feedback from our employees and be willing to make necessary changes. Employees who feel valued and respected will always do their best and stay with the company.

The one technique my clients have found most helpful to improve their active listening skills has been: REFLECTIVE LISTENING! It involves “listening to the speaker and then repeating back what you heard in your own words.? This technique helps to ensure that you have understood the speaker's message correctly and gives them the opportunity to confirm or correct any misunderstandings.“? How is it different from summarizing? Reflective listening involves not only summarizing what the speaker said but also reflecting on the speaker's emotions and feelings. It’s as much about the words conveyed as it is about the speaker's tone, body language, and other nonverbal cues.