The Power of Effective Communication: Increasing Empathy and Active Listening for Positive Outcomes

Earlier this month, we took a pause to recognize Earth Day. Amidst the call for change in creating a sustainable and compassionate world, Earth day served us with a powerful reminder about the importance of effective communication and how our words have tremendous power. Our words have the ability to unite us and inspire positive change, and they can also create distrust, destruction and suffering.?

One of the biggest causes of stress and anxiety in the workplace relates to how we communicate with one another. Personality traits, worldviews, blindspots and agendas can all influence communication styles and make it difficult to develop trust and build strong relationships with others. A recent study found that over 40% of workers feel that ineffective and poor communication are negatively affecting their job satisfaction, stress levels and trust in leadership. How we communicate matters.?

John & Sarah?

Consider the story of John and Sarah - two individuals with contrasting communication styles. John is assertive, and prefers to communicate in a direct and assertive manner. He likes to take control and quickly get to action. Sarah, on the other hand, is quieter and more contemplative. She prefers to avoid conflict and prefers to process information before making decisions. John saw Sarah as weak, slow to communicate decisions and unable to handle tough conversations. Sarah, on the other hand, viewed John as aggressive and intimidating, which made her feel defensive and guarded in their interactions. As a result, the two of them struggled to communicate effectively, leading to a breakdown in trust.?

At IPL, we see many versions of this story playing out in the workplace. Unhealthy conflicts and misunderstandings, which when left to fester can damage morale and even drive people to quit.?

Increasing empathy and understanding

At IPL, we use the DiSC profile and the Enneagram as tools to help individuals and teams understand their communication style and how this plays into broader systems and team dynamics. Through greater awareness and understanding about our type structures and how these drive and influence the way we communicate, we can vastly improve empathy and understanding, and positively impact our relationships.??

Awareness is the first step towards effective communication. Leaders who are aware of their communication style and how it may be perceived by others can adjust their approach to better connect with others. Going back to John and Sarah - when they learned about each other’s personality structure and their preferred communication style during a team workshop using the DiSC profile, they were able to identify how their communication style was positively and negatively impacting those around them. Armed with this knowledge, they were able to take responsibility for their own reactivity and work on adjusting their approach to be more collaborative and inclusive. John learned to tone down his directness and listen more actively to Sarah's perspective, while Sarah learned to be more direct and practiced speaking up more in her conversations with John.?

Active listening builds deeper connections

Active listening is the second key skill that leaders can develop to improve their communication effectiveness. Active listening means listening with the intention of understanding, rather than just waiting for your turn to speak. When leaders practice active listening, they create a safe space for others to express their thoughts and ideas. By actively listening, leaders can better understand perspectives, needs, and concerns, and create an environment where team members feel heard and valued.?

In our latest article, we wrote about the importance of Active Empathetic Listening as a tool to improve relationships, boost empathy and understanding, and create a more positive environment for both in-person and remote teams. Check out the article here and learn strategies that will enable you to better connect with others.?

WAIT

WAIT is an acronym we learned in coach training that serves as a powerful reminder to pause and listen to others. It stands for "Why Am I Talking?" Applying this tool can help you resist the urge to interrupt a conversation and instead, listen more attentively. Give it a try and see how it can improve your communication skills.

Communication for positive outcomes

The importance of effective communication in the workplace cannot be overstated. By taking the time to increase our own awareness and practice active empathetic listening, we can build stronger relationships and create more positive outcomes for a kinder and more compassionate world.?

What We’re Reading:?

Conversational Intelligence by Judith Glaser.?

We’re enjoying reading Conversational Intelligence by Judith Glaser. In this book, Judith explores the power of conversations in building relationships and achieving success. Judith outlines a framework for understanding different levels of conversations and provides research and practical tools that help readers navigate difficult conversations, build trust, and create more meaningful connections with others. The book emphasizes the importance of listening, empathy, and leading with authenticity in communication with others.?

Visit our Leadership Library

Check out our Leadership Library where we continue to curate resource recommendations and original articles on topics ranging from well-being at work to inclusive leadership. We have a whole section on communication with several recommended books, podcasts and articles. Be sure to visit often, and please share your recommendations with us. We are always adding to this list!?

Next month we’ll be taking a deeper dive into psychological safety and will look forward to sharing our thoughts and recommended tools in our next newsletter coming in May.

Until then... Lead well!?

Alina & Emma