How The Art Of Active Listening Can Unlock Success In Your Organisation by Sarah Tiffany
Both our professional and personal lives are filled with a constant and relentless streamline of communication- emails, briefings, WhatsApp, notifications, podcasts, memos, meetings, adverts – the list goes on and on. Everyone has something to say and, in a world where everyone is talking loud and fast, the leadership skill of active listening can often be overlooked. In our latest blog we look at the key benefits that active listening can promote within you organisation and why this skill should never be underestimated:
- It builds understanding and trust
Active listening is more than just hearing the words people say. It is about being committed to fully listening to their thoughts and opinions with the aim of understanding the meaning behind these. As a leader if you can understand, although you may not necessarily agree with, your colleagues’ point of view you are better placed to respond to their concerns and requests in a more aligned and empathetic way. We all want to feel heard – through active listening you demonstrate to your employees that their input and opinions are valued, and it helps you to make more informed decisions for your team and the business.
- It encourages growth and innovation
An environment where all opinions are welcomed allows people to explore and as a result real innovation can take place. When your team feel trusted and valued, they are more likely to share new ideas and thoughts which in turn builds their self-confidence and fuels their creativity, encouraging them to take the initiative and be more proactive.
In addition, by paying attention to and developing your active listening skills, you will also benefit from a deeper understanding of your own leadership style. Investing this time in yourself will help you to flex, adapt and grow on a personal level.
- It can help resolve conflict
There will of course always be some level of conflict in the workplace – wherever there is a difference of opinion or a different group of personalities. Active listening allows you get a real understanding of the problem. By identifying the root cause of the conflict, you are more likely to find an effective solution for everyone rather than just addressing the issues that surround it.
- It improves communication skills and team cohesion
As mentioned earlier, high quality listening means being fully committed to listening to people in order to really understand what they are saying. It is a fundamental pillar of effective communication – ensuring that messages are not just sent but most importantly received accurately. This avoids most instances of misunderstanding within a team and has a positive impact on employee engagement, motivation and team cohesion.
In conclusion, leadership comes in all different shapes and sizes and there are some key skills that get plenty of airtime – decision making, strategic thinking and many more. These are of course incredibly important aspects of leadership, but we would all do well to focus in and develop our listening skills. Then take a step back and reflect on the positive impact it might just have in driving success throughout your organisation.
