Great Leadership Is an Exercise in Active Listening

Scores of books have been written about good leadership, but what if it was as simple as two words? Active listening is the key to being a good leader—everything else is over-complication. How can leaders build this skill, though? Start by eliminating distractions. When someone is communicating with you, stop what you’re doing and give the speaker your full attention. This communicates that you are interested and engaged with what they have to say. This also means that you need to pause your own thoughts. Don’t feel like you need to immediately respond to what the speaker is saying, and don’t start formulating an opinion in your head. When actively listening, demonstrate empathy where you can. Ask them to clarify their issue, and try to put yourself in their shoes. Finally, it can also be helpful to practice authentic silences. Don’t fill every moment with conversation; taking a moment to pause and reflect before responding will help you and the speaker reach an understanding.