Why leaders need to shut up and listen more

Leadership takes more than just giving orders and managing tasks.?

Maybe in the past this was enough, but the workplace has evolved massively over the years and the role of leaders has changed with it.??

There’s now a long and pretty complex list of things it takes to become an effective leader but there’s a commonly underrated and overlooked one.

Listening.

At this point, everybody should (hopefully) know that communication is a necessary skill in the workplace. But many seem to forget that listening is a huge part of that.

According to a study , which gathered data from around 18,000 leaders, 46% stated they prefer giving practical advice to taking the time to truly understand their employees.

Not surprisingly, 18% of the surveyed said that people frequently mentioned they could be better listeners.?

Every leader needs to possess the ability to not only listen, but to do it well.?

This is a skill called deep listening, and luckily, like most skills, it can be developed.

What exactly is deep listening?

Deep listening means paying full attention to what others are saying, without judgement, stereotypes or preconceived notions and assumptions. It means immersing yourself in the speaker's words, understanding their perspective, and only responding to ask questions to learn or gain further clarity.

Author and speaker Nancy Kline sums it up in her book “Time to Think” where she talks about a concept called the "Thinking Environment". This is basically when you create a space where people can genuinely think, reflect, and express themselves without interruption, leading to higher quality of thinking.??

How to develop your deep listening skills in the workplace

Deep listening isn’t something you can read about and then master immediately. You have to be intentional and regularly practise. Here are some steps to help you:?

1. Create a “Thinking Environment”

As mentioned above, Nancy Kline's Time to Think concept can be hugely valuable when trying to create a space where team members feel safe to express themselves without judgement or interruption.?

The Thinking Environment is made up of Ten Components that generate the finest independent thinking. These include:

1. Attention: Providing undivided attention to the speaker, demonstrating that you value their thoughts and ideas.
2. Equality: Treating all team members as equals, irrespective of their position or role.
3. Ease: Creating a safe, relaxed and comfortable environment where everyone can speak freely.
4. Appreciation: Showing gratitude, celebrating wins and recognising the contributions of each team member.
5. Encouragement: Providing support and positive feedback to boost confidence.
6. Feelings: Acknowledging and addressing emotions in discussions.
7. Information: Ensuring that everyone has access to relevant information for an informed discussion.
8. Difference: Embracing diverse perspectives and viewpoints.
9. Incisive Questions: Asking thought-provoking questions to stimulate deeper thinking.
10. Place: Choosing an appropriate physical or virtual space for effective communication.

Once you crack all ten, you create a framework that will foster a culture of deep listening and thinking across your team.

?2. Be mindful

You need to be present and give your full, undivided attention when engaged in deep listening. That’s where mindfulness can come in useful.?

The whole purpose of mindfulness is to help you be in the moment, so implementing certain techniques will help you achieve that during conversations, as it minimises distractions and allows you to focus on what's being said. It enables you to engage more fully with others, understand their perspectives, and build stronger connections.

For some reason, mindfulness can have a bad wrap in the workplace, but its benefits are incredibly powerful. There’s plenty of misconceptions that you have to wake up at the crack of dawn or meditate everyday. When in reality, all it takes is a few minutes a day to focus on yourself and your surroundings.?

If you’re not sure where to start, click here for 5 simple steps to help you introduce mindfulness into your daily routine.?

3. Ask questions

Questions are a powerful tool when engaging in deep listening. Asking the speaker questions helps them to further explore, clarify, or expand on their thoughts and feelings. It allows for a deeper and higher quality of thought, helping them to uncover insights or perspectives that they wouldn’t have reached otherwise.

You should try to only respond to learn and gain more information, rather than just to give your own thoughts, ideas and opinions. Focus on open ended questions to encourage the speaker to delve deeper into their narrative and explore more comprehensive thoughts and ideas.?

Not only do questions usually lead to higher quality thoughts and ideas from the speaker, it also demonstrates your genuine interest and empathy. It shows you care and that makes the speaker feel heard and valued.?

One last thing…

High performing teams aren’t the default and Braver Leaders Team Coaching focuses on providing you with the tools you need to be the cohesive unit you have the potential to be.

Book in a chat with me here to find out about the different workshops and coaching programmes available.