Active Listening with Your Team Members

Active listening is the cornerstone of effective leadership. When you actively listen to your team members, you build trust, create a more collaborative environment, and get better results.

However, many leaders struggle to listen actively. They may be distracted by their own thoughts, or they may be so focused on solving problems that they don't really hear what their team members are saying.

If you want to become a more effective leader, you need to develop your active listening skills. Here are a few tips:

1. Be present.

This means putting away your phone, closing your laptop, and giving your team member your full attention. Make eye contact, nod your head, and smile to show that you're listening.

2. Ask open-ended questions.

This encourages your team member to share more information and their own perspectives. For example, instead of asking "Did you finish that report?", you could ask "What challenges did you face in completing the report, and how did you overcome them?"

3. Paraphrase and summarize.

This shows your team member that you're listening and that you understand what they're saying. For example, you could say "So, what you're saying is that you're concerned about the timeline for this project, and you're not sure if you have the resources you need."

4. Listen for feelings and emotions.

People often communicate their feelings and emotions through their body language and tone of voice. Pay attention to these cues to get a better understanding of what your team member is really saying.

5. Be non-judgmental.

When you're actively listening, you're not trying to evaluate or judge your team member's ideas. You're simply trying to understand their perspective.

6. Be empathetic.

Try to see things from your team member's point of view. This will help you to understand their motivations and concerns.

7. Summarize and confirm.

At the end of the conversation, summarize the main points and confirm your understanding. This helps to ensure that you and your team member are on the same page.

Here are some additional tips for actively listening to your team members in the language of Marshall Goldsmith:

• Be a mirror. Reflect back what your team member is saying, using your own words. This helps you to ensure that you're understanding them correctly.

• Be a sounding board. Provide your team member with a safe space to share their thoughts and feelings without judgment.

• Be a coach. Ask questions to help your team member clarify their thinking and develop their ideas.

• Be a cheerleader. Be supportive and encouraging, and help your team member to stay motivated.

When you actively listen to your team members, you show them that you value their contributions and that you're committed to their success. This creates a more positive and productive work environment for everyone.

Here are some examples of how you can use these tips in your interactions with your team members:

Example 1:

Team member: "I'm really struggling with this new project. I'm not sure if I have the skills or experience I need."

Leader: "So, you're feeling overwhelmed and unsure of yourself."

Team member: "Yes, that's exactly it."

Leader: "Let's talk about what you're struggling with specifically, and see if we can develop a plan to help you succeed."

Example 2:

Team member: "I have an idea for how we can improve our customer service process."

Leader: "Tell me more about your idea."

Team member: "Well, I've noticed that a lot of customers have difficulty getting through to our customer service representatives. I think we could improve the process by creating a more user-friendly website and by offering more self-service options."

Leader: "I like your idea. Let's discuss it further and see if we can develop a plan to implement it."

By following these tips, you can become a more active listener and build stronger relationships with your team members. This will lead to a more positive and productive work environment for everyone.