How can you actively listen to your team to improve your leadership skills?

Often overlooked, the foundation for true mindful listening lies in a regulated nervous system. The most effective social engagement happens from a state of calm confidence. If you are overwhelmed with stress, mindful listening may be incredibly difficult for you, AND…if the person you are communicating with is under sever stress, your earnest attempts at mindful communication may simply go unreceived. So this is just a little reminder to have compassion for yourself and others if it does not come easy! Take a step back and work on your stress regulation first, and what follows will be much easier.

Mindful listening is not just being in the present. It is a process involving openness, observations ( body language cues, eye contact), noticing the tone and pitch of the voice, rephrasing and asking open ended questions for clarity, patience, etc. The listener should be able to keep away from personal biases, beliefs and prejudices.

First you have to let go of yourself being the most important in the group. Set or establish realistic goals and times. Admit your errors in making decisions. Make sure every team member is treated with dignity and respect. Know who your employees are personally so that you don’t make the mistake of judging one employees character by what someone else says. This is especially true in race relations on the job. One person’s opinion of another is just that, an opinion. For example, if you are white and comfortable with a black employee, don’t make that the standard of others regardless of race because we all have some common characteristics but many individual characteristics. This is also work but will pay off beautifully.

Mindful listening is putting yourself aside and focusing on the person with you. Seeing them as you would see yourself in the present and focusing on the moment at hand.

Show interest, concern. The first step in increasing your leadership listening skills is to learn how to connect with your team

Mindful listening is crucial for leaders because: - Builds Trust: It demonstrates respect and valuing of team members' perspectives, fostering a safe environment. - Enhances Understanding: Ensures accurate comprehension of messages, reducing miscommunication. - Drives Engagement: Employees feel heard and acknowledged, boosting morale and motivation. - Facilitates Problem-Solving: Deepens understanding of issues, allowing for informed decisions. - Encourages Openness: Creates an atmosphere where team members are more likely to share insights and concerns. - Promotes Personal Growth: By receiving feedback mindfully, leaders can identify areas for improvement.

Mindful listening defines a great leader! I think one thing I always tried to do was really giving someone my full attention if they ever came to talk with me about anything. That idea of an "open-door policy" doesn't work as a leader if you aren't physically ready and present to be there for someone if they come knocking at your door. And you really have to be ready for just about anything. Positive or negative feedback on a policy or piece of advice you have just given someone. A death in the family. Thoughts of suicide or trauma—nothing is really off the table when it comes to being there for someone you work with. The attitude you take when someone walks in to talk means the world to that person in that moment. Be present and ready!

Misconceptions are one of the biggest downfalls. A leader must be open and ready for engagement at all times and in the most constructive way possible. To be a successful leader, your values must also foster a positive vision to build a solid relationship with people around you.

Leadership is all about leading and one can't lead if they are not inculcating mindful Listening! Being empathetic about your team members will help not only the TEAM to grow, but add to companies objectives in a meaningful way! Leadership is not only about meeting targets and getting the work done It is all about how Effectively that work is getting done ?? On the other hand, it gives a sense of belongingness too - which can always help every professional to grow in their respective fields. Leadership is about creating more leaders, can anyone create more leaders without even mindful Listening?

Preparing for mindful listening involves: - Setting Intent: Begin with the genuine intention to understand and be present. - Eliminating Distractions: Choose a conducive environment, silence electronics, and clear your workspace. - Centering Yourself: Take a few deep breaths to anchor your focus and be in the present moment. - Open-Mindedness: Enter the conversation without preconceptions or biases. - Positive Body Language: Adopt an open posture, maintain eye contact, and nod occasionally to show engagement. - Acknowledging Emotions: Recognize your emotional responses without allowing them to dictate reactions. - Being Patient: Allow pauses and silences; they give both the speaker and listener a chance to reflect.

It's helpful to have a safe and private space when possible with a Do Not Disturb mode to fend off interruptions. This will allow for trust to build. People often will not open fully when not in the proper space. Mindful listening is a one-on-one conversation and certain matters can be a vulnerable time. Understanding body language and knowing how to create a calm atmosphere is conducive to a successful outcome.

Self Reflection is the key ?? breathing or think like SUN ?? Check, what triggers you to respond whenever you hear anything from the team. Try it for 2 weeks, and you will know what listening would give: It will not only help you form that bond, but it will help you achieve your targets more productively when you think like a true LEADER or SUN, right?

To improve your leadership skills through active listening: - Be Present: Eliminate distractions and give the speaker your full attention. - Non-Verbal Cues: Maintain eye contact and use open body language to show engagement. - Reflect & Clarify: Paraphrase what's said to ensure understanding and ask clarifying questions. - Avoid Interrupting: Let the speaker finish before responding. - Empathize: Understand and validate emotions without judgment. - Resist Offering Solutions: Sometimes, just being heard is what's needed. By practicing emotional intelligence, you can better comprehend team members' feelings and perspectives, fostering trust and collaboration.

Actively listening to your team is vital for improving leadership skills. Focus on the speaker without interruptions, maintaining eye contact, and using non-verbal cues to show engagement. Paraphrase and reflect on what's said to demonstrate understanding. Ask open-ended questions to encourage sharing. Empathize with their perspectives, fostering a supportive environment. Practice patience, allowing team members to express themselves fully. Regularly seek feedback to demonstrate a commitment to improvement. Active listening builds trust, enhances communication, and empowers leaders to make informed and inclusive decisions.

In order to have a high level of presence when skill building in mindful listening try to practice listening in order to silently acknowledge that the other person's experience truly exists for them.

You are the listener. Avoid judging, and heavy criticism so having an empathetic mindset is a tremendous help. Avoid cutting off the other person, and allow them to say what needs to be said. In this way, you are gauging their tone, body language, and expressions toward their feelings and points of view. Paraphrasing a whole conversation is okay, however, try paraphrasing every few points along the way to break things down to a deeper level and help encourage the person with you to elaborate and be more open. Asking open-ended questions helps to alleviate misunderstandings.

Just try not to judge, not even yourself! When you are there to understand and not to judge - you will always inculcate Mindful Listening. Just like how SUN and nature listens to us and understand our senses and gives us everything!

Here's what else to consider: Put the shoe on the other foot. If you were the one needing someone to listen to you, you'd want to have support and present engagement. You would not want someone who is constantly watching their phone or computer. You would hope that the listener is taking in every concern and word and would be ready to aid in effective solutions that will help set you up for an achievable goal and be successful. Every situation and matter under the sun deserves its spotlight to be something better to learn and grow from. When a successful outcome comes to fruition, both parties benefit from the experience of learning how to be effective in leadership, collaboration, and teamwork.

In a nutshell: 1. Foster open, supportive communication. 2. Be fully present, avoiding distractions. 3. Use non-verbal cues to show engagement. 4. Ask open-ended questions for discussion. 5. Demonstrate empathy and acknowledge emotions. 6. Paraphrase and summarize to confirm understanding. 7. Avoid interrupting to enable full expression. 8. Suspend judgment and keep an open mind. 9. Offer constructive feedback and guidance. 10. Act on feedback to drive positive change. 11. Practice patience, allowing time for expression. 12. Learn from feedback for continuous improvement.

Always follow 3 Principles in life: 1. Your words should match with your Actions 2. Your role is to help others grow, a true leader is always known for Giving that to the Team 3. Repeat this process on daily basis, do not carry any past burdens or a bad day, everyday is a new opportunity to make or do something better then yesterday! Mindful Listening is a DAILY goal, not a one time challenge or course