Discover the Power of Being Present
Douglas Ferguson
President @ Voltage Control | Facilitation Academy | Author | Educator
As leaders, we often work on how well we speak and present. But have you taken the time to work on how well you listen and stay present? When leaders only turn up their own volume, they create an environment where teams are unwilling to communicate. Leaders may hear the words of their team. However, they’re not actively listening without fully connecting with the emotion behind their words. One-way communication is harmful to both office morale and productivity. Teams don’t want just to be heard. They want to be fully understood and cared for.
?To fully demonstrate empathy, we must?listen with our eyes , a notion backed by science. Research suggests that abstract motion or flashing can evoke sounds for individuals with strong ‘visual ears’. Listening with our eyes is a concise concept that can birth new dynamics within a team. Put simply, listening with our eyes is paying attention. It’s a deeper form of listening that evokes care and compassion.
?There are many ways for us to listen, spoken and unspoken. When contributing to a conversation, it’s motivating to feel seen and heard. Listening with our eyes allows us to provide affirmation and empathy. As we become more connected with our devices, it’s essential to be sure we stay connected with one another on a human level. There are creative ways to nurture and discover more about your team; understanding beliefs and assumptions will open the doors to empathy. Get our?Nurture the Naysayers ?template to start for your team.
?Here are strategies to better listen with your eyes:
Being heard is never more important than hearing. Listening with our eyes can build a powerful rapport and a stronger team. Good leadership is too often associated directly with extraversion. But the quiet confidence that listening with our eyes sparks is even more respected. Listening with our eyes is acting with intent and honoring our colleagues’ unique thoughts and perspectives. When we’re intentionally creating space for these perspectives, teams can better collaborate and function.
?Douglas Ferguson | President, Voltage Control
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