Attention Executives, How Well Are You Listening? by Teri Bosley, President
In the fast paced world of business, effective interactions are essential, yet not always easily attained. Today's executive is faced with a variety of challenges. A virtual workplace, a leaner and more diverse workforce, dynamic market conditions, and aggressive corporate objectives all drive the need for a mastery of communication.
Research continually reveals that listening skills are a critical communication component for effective leaders. A study of 1,400 business leaders, managers, and executives regarding skills they viewed as most important, and areas where they made their biggest mistakes revealed that 81% weren't satisfied with their ability to listen or involve others. So when it comes to communicating in the midst of a busy day, how well are you listening?
Let's explore several concepts that can result in greater listening effectiveness.
- Listen to learn: Focus on learning from every interaction. Many times an executive will listen for "just enough" information then determine that he/she has "enough" to stop listening and either instruct, delegate, or explore a resolution. Beware of the tendency to cut-off the conversation too early. An executive is well served to listen and probe deeper to learn more details as subordinates may choose to tell the upside of the situation first. Listening to learn can be very beneficial for long-term success!
- Become comfortable with silence: If your tendency is to move at a fast pace when conversing then focus on slowing down enough to listen and process what is being conveyed. As a part of our executive coaching engagements, we often say that there is "power in a pause". From experience I see time and time again executives that pass over critical information and details by reacting quickly instead of taking a few moments to digest what has been presented.
- Listen with respect: Treat each conversation as an opportunity to value the other person. If you demonstrate a lack of respect your ability to listen will be diminished. Respectful listening sets aside past concerns or personal differences to focus on the issue at hand. Be careful about creating a story in your mind regarding the individual that inhibits your ability to truly "hear" what they have to say. Avoid judgments about the messenger and listen to the message.
- Listen for the spirit of intent: Words alone may not fully convey a person's true message. Observe what people say, how they say it, the congruency or lack thereof in their body language, and the sentiment behind it. Research reveals that 55% of communication comes from body language, 38% from the tone of voice and a mere 7% from the actual spoken words. Hence the saying "it is not what he/she said but how they said it." What does your listener "hear" from your body language? Is it congruent with your words? Are you listening beyond words?
- Listen without ego: Set your ego aside and seek to fully understand another person's point of view. An inflated ego communicates arrogance which can cause a limited perspective. When our ego gets in the way we stop listening to others and focus on our own knowledge. Consider the value of combining your skills and intellect with those of another person as two heads are certainly better than one!
Listening is a powerful tool for any successful and effective executive. Monarch Performance Group has extensive experience in assisting our clients in developing these tools at the executive, senior management, and front line management levels. Please contact us today at www.monarchpg.com or call us directly at 919-881-0977 to discuss how we can help you unleash this power in your own organization.
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