The Underrated Superpower: Listening

Midday yesterday, a friend texted to see if I was available for a last minute happy hour. Fortunately I was, as the majority of my time is spent mapping out my next career journey. So a few hours later, we are chatting with appetizers in hand. Now, it's not very often this particular friend wants to meet on short notice over happy hour, so my spidey sense was tingling. Well, without going into too much detail, the happy hour stretched to a few hours, listening. That's it, listening. In this case, that was the only thing I could do to help and that's all my friend needed. The "fix" was the simple act of listening.

In the business world, we tend to place immense value on hard skills - strategic thinking, problem solving, data analysis, decision-making, public speaking to mention a few. While these capabilities are certainly vital, one often overlooked "soft skill" may actually be the most important for any leader or organization striving for excellence. That skill is listening to understand.

I can't say that the skill of truly listening to understand or just being there was always natural to me. In fact, I used to believe my 'super power' was to solve problems for others quickly, efficiently and consistently. This played out many times in my personal and professional life. A friend shares a struggle, and I would jump in with advice. A employee vents about an issue, and I'd pivot into problem-solving mode.

When we don't prioritize truly listening to understand one another, we hamper our ability to build trust, cultivate relationships, and optimize organizational performance. At the most basic level, listening demonstrates genuine care, respect and interest in someone as an individual. People feel valued when they sense you are fully present, rather than waiting to interject with your own agenda. The experience of being heard establishes a human connection that forms the cornerstone of any strong relationship, whether personal or professional. Without it, it's difficult to develop loyalty, alignment and the open collaboration required for growth.

I use my personal life experiences to enhance my professional experiences when it comes to harnessing and practicing effective listening. Just the other day, my wife came home from an extremely stressful day of work and after dinner suggested we go for a walk on the trails that weave in and out of or neighborhood. A perfect opportunity to be in the right environment for dedicated listening, knowing full well that was the purpose. She needed that venue and my ear and I was going to be there to listen. Active, non-judgmental listening unlocks invaluable knowledge flow from a spouse just as it does in an organization.

When employees feel their voice genuinely matters and leadership listens with focused intention, they view themselves as valued contributors, not just hired hands. How can you drive the right outcomes if you don't adequately appreciate the current state? Truly understanding an employee's talents, motivators, and challenges allows you to provide tailored support, coaching, and development plans. You'll learn how to lead them through change, or gain insights into team dynamics holding people back. Grasping someone's unique perspective allows you to implement effective strategies to help them thrive.

Beyond just individual employees, listening equips organizations to nimbly pivot and evolve with changing times. Companies that seek insights from customers, partners and the marketplace by listening closely are more in touch with shifting needs and preferences. This heightened awareness creates fertile ground for creativity, productive problem-solving, and differentiating innovations. Over time, these adaptive organizations outpace companies too insular to listen and evolve.

Of course, listening alone is insufficient if not paired with reflection, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to gain new understanding. But without first listening - really listening - as a consistent backbone, we cannot tap into the rich insights that drive relational cohesion, focus productivity, or spark the innovation breakthrough ideas.

Developing listening comprehension as an individual discipline and cultural value is challenging, constant work. It requires checking ego, avoiding defensiveness, and maintaining true curiosity about others' realities. But the ROI in terms of elevated trust, engagement, inclusion and adaptability cannot be overstated.

Leaders should be the elite practitioners and master that art of listening. In a world overflowing with noise and differing perspectives, those leaders embracing the listening superpower will thrive for themselves and their companies.