Larry Boyer

7 years ago · 4 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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The Most Important Skill to Develop As A Leader

The Most Important Skill to Develop As A Leader

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People are screaming!  Are you listening? 

Whether you are a business leader, political leader or civic leader listening to the people you are leading or looking to lead is critical to your success.  We see leaders of all types and styles succeeding and failing as a simple result of their ability or inability to listen and make their audience feel heard.  Listening sounds easier than it is and I challenge you read on and reflect on how you can improve your own listening abilities. 

Feedback surveys often reveal that managers and leaders believe they are much better listeners than their teams say. Managers, politicians and even family members may hear words coming out of other's mouths, but are they really hearing, understanding and internalizing what is being said?  Have you communicated that you understand what has been said and what, if any, actions you will take? Do you follow up? 

Feeling valued creates a deeper level of trust and security at work, which frees us to spend less energy seeking and defending our value, and more energy creating it. In a world in which our attention is increasingly under siege, better focus makes it possible get more work done, in less time, at a higher level of quality. - Tony Schwartz and Christine Porath in Harvard Business Review

Earlier this year a Gallup poll revealed that yet again 68% of employees are not engaged or actively disengaged at work. If you have 3 people reporting to you, only 1 is actually engaged and the other two are not. What is the source of this disengagement? Frequently the answer is the employee's direct manager, and particularly not feeling valued or respected. Often the manager finds this perplexing believing he is showing his team how he values them through performance evaluations, perhaps a spot bonus or a nomination to be the "Star of the Month". These are all fleeting, impersonal symbols that while they feel good for the moment leave the employee hungering for something more substantial. 

One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say. - Bryant H. McGill 

Listening sounds easy, but it is not. Think about it a moment, what is listen? 

Three Types of Listening

Level 1 Listening - Subjective Listening: You relate what you are hearing to yourself and your experiences. When you are using Level 1 listening you will respond by relating back one of your own similar experiences. When you do this you are not giving your full attention to the speaker because you are busy coming up with your own response and reliving your experience. You may feel it's similar to what the speaker's experience is, but it rarely is. As a result the person speaking rarely feels connected or valued by the listener. 

Level 2 Listening- Objective Listening: Just the facts. You hear facts and can relate them back to the speaker. There are no thoughts about how your experience and how it relates to the speaker. Objective listening is more engaging because you are not filtering the other person's experience through your own and as a result can convey what the other is saying, at least superficially. Objectively listening is connecting facts but not emotion. Traditionally taught active listening is Level 2 Listening.

Level 3 Listening - Intuitive Listening: Intuitive listening is about understanding the whole message and context, beyond just the words. The intuitive listener pays as much attention to what's not being said as what is being said - body language, expressiveness, tone of voice, and emotion. This most powerful form of listening allows you, the listener, to emotionally connect with the speaker. Rather than repeat the fact, the listener conveys understanding by going beyond paraphrasing to include a more broad and full understanding of the speaker's situation and emotions. 

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said. - Peter Drucker

What people want most from their leaders is to feel that the leader understand them, their circumstances and their opinions. When an employee believes their manager understands them and appreciates their point of view or situation they will most often accept your decisions and directions, even if they are contrary to or different from what they are seeking. A leader who listens well, connects and is empathetic will have the respect and following of his/her team. A leader who is an effective listener will ensure that the people he/she disagrees with feel heard and understood, so that if thought they disagree with a decision they will respect the decision because they were given sufficient consideration.  

Quality Listening is Under Attack

I was recently watching a TED talk by Julian Treasure about listening.  What caught my attention most however was the notion that listening is under attack in our society. Think about it for a moment - do you really know what is being said in the lyrics of a song you like to sing along to?  

Another point to consider - how closely do you need to listen if you can record and review a presentation over and over? Do you really pay attention the first time? As a leader how closely do you pay attention to what's being said if you know someone else is taking notes?  

5 Ways to Be a Better Listener

In his TED talk Julian Treasure shares 5 ways to be a better listener. These are some listening exercises you can practice every day. 

  • Silence: Give your ears a break and spend 3 minutes per day in silence (or as quiet as you can find). Let your mind reset so you can hear and notice the subtle sounds around you. 
  • The Mixer: How many different sounds and conversations can you pick out in a noisy environment? Take time to focus for a time on each one, tuning out the others. 
  • Savoring: Sit back and enjoy listening to some mundane, everyday sounds. The washing machine, dishwasher, the neighbor's leaf blower. What do you notice about the sounds? Are there any patterns that emerge?
  • Listening Positions: Change your listening position to what's appropriate to what you are listening to. - active/passive
  • RASA: This is an acronym for R eceive, A ppreciate, S ummarize, A sk. When you listen you R eceive the information (words, intonation, body language). While you are listening you can A ppreciate and acknowledge what is being said. When you are done listening you then S ummarize what you heard and A sk if you heard it right.

 As a better listener your team and leaders will appreciate you more. You will be more caring and emphatic People will trust you more and follow you because of the dynamic you have created with them because you know them.

Julian Treasure's TED Talk is less than 8 minutes and you can watch it now.

What can you do today to start listening better?


Copyright 2016 by Larry Boyer. All rights reserved.

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About the Author

Larry Boyer helps people and businesses prepare for the changing and evolving economy of the 21st Century. He does this through combining his work with advanced analytics, business strategy and personal development, changing emphasis to meet the specific needs of his clients. He founded Success Rockets LLC in 2009 in the shadow of the financial crisis to address these needs and has evolved to include the evolving challenges from the 4th Industrial Revolution and disruptive technologies and business models.   He is both a Certified Business Economist (TM) and Associated Accredited Coach, providing a truly unique set skills to help his clients succeed. He is a recognized leader in both analytics and coaching, speaking and writing on both topics. 

Follow Larry on Twitter @LarryBoyer

**Author's Note** Any issues with any or all content used in this post, should be directed to the author (Larry.Boyer@SuccessRockets.com)

Comments

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #31

#41
Thanks Sarah Elkins, I think we all need a reminder about listening from time to time. Perhaps some of us more often than others!

Jean-Yves Piton

7 years ago #30

Great article Larry. Thanks for sharing.

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #29

Shared this again Larry Boyer, \ud83d\udc1d Brand Ambassador, great buzz!

Sarah Elkins

7 years ago #28

Great reminders here, Larry Boyer, \ud83d\udc1d Brand Ambassador. When I worked in food service as a young adult, I got really good at listening to multiple conversations at one time. I could pick out pieces that were relevant to me, such as "ask her for another beer when she comes by", and "I meant to ask for my dressing on the side". It was funny to see the expressions on faces when it seemed like I was prescient when I'd return to their table with exactly what they wanted. It was also good for tips! Reading this reminds me that I need to get back to that and remind myself to dig in deeper. Thanks!
#38
Funny, Larry Boyer, \ud83d\udc1d Brand Ambassador, I wrote on one that topic, geared more towards my dating adventures than anyting else. Hmmmm. I should go find that one.

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #26

#37
"Argumentive people want you to engage; silence is your ally." That's a golden nugget Jim \ud83d\udc1d Cody. it seems these days we use words to beat other into submission (or at least try).

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #25

#35
"So many of us talk, talk, talk -- who's listening?" I love that Susan Rooks. Perhaps a title for your next article? :)
So many of us talk, talk, talk -- who's listening? Great read and truth here from Larry Boyer, \ud83d\udc1d Brand Ambassador.

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #23

#33
Exactly Claire \ud83d\udc1d Cardwell! I'm glad you enjoyed it TED talk. Listening is definitely a skill that can be taught and learned and it's more than just hearing words.

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #22

#27
Thank you for your added insights ! Perhaps we should make listening an international movement!

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #21

#26
Thank you @donna-luisa-eversley ! I'm humbled that you find this to be a keepsake article. I hope it continues to be of benefit for a long time. I think quality listening is a life long venture.

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #20

#25
Thanks Aaron Skogen. Lost art may very well be a sad and accurate commentary, especially with how we use social media these days (mostly on platforms other than beBee). Let's breathe some life back into listening!

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #19

#24
Thanks Grant Chamberlain. Conflict management is undoubtedly a great application. Glad to hear you were getting the word out. Let's hope more people listen about listening!

Mohammed Abdul Jawad

7 years ago #18

Excellent post. Listening, with great attention, bestows complete understanding and clears misconceptions. On the contrary, half listening or hasty listening makes us to jump-start for quick, vain responses.

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #17

#20
Thank you Grant Chamberlain. It's too bad we don't teach it more.

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #16

#21
Thank you iso much @henri-galvao That is such an amazing compliment. I'm glad the post provided some extra context to bring some more meaning to waht Julian Treasure was saying.

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #15

#18
Glad you liked it Susan Rooks! We all do it. We just need to keep raising our awareness and notice when we aren't really paying attention. I also like the point that if you're not really listening to the other person you are not respecting them. It may not be your intent, but that is really what's happening. When you understand that it's easier to change your behavior. Then again, that may also be a sign of the problem - I don't respect you so I'm not going to listen to you I am just going to prepare my rebuttal.
Larry Boyer, listening is probably the most-underused skill we have! So many of us (me, too, sadly) can't wait to talk. We look like we're listening, but too many times we're just waiting for the other person to pause, even for a microsecond. Then we rush in, possibly not even having heard the other person. And I love that quote by Peter Drucker. Thanks for a much-needed post!

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #13

#14
It doesn't have to be that way Eroll El-Warner. All it takes is people to be aware to start doing it and demanding it.

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #12

#12
He's a great speaker, I wouldn't mind hearing more from him!

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #11

#11
Thanks Lisa Gallagher! Great quote to pull form Julian Treasure. We need reminders like these from time to time.

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #10

Thank you for explaining the 3 levels of listening, Larry Boyer, great post Larry!

David B. Grinberg

7 years ago #9

My pleasure, Larry Boyer -- and right back at YOU!

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #8

#7
Thanks David Grinberg! Really appreciate your support!

David B. Grinberg

7 years ago #7

FYI: Javier beBee (also shared on LinkedIn).

David B. Grinberg

7 years ago #6

What a great read with excellent advice, as usual, Larry Boyer!

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #5

#4
Thank you for your comment and praise Phil Friedman. The addition of reading is a good one as is the point on social media. How often do we read something part way (like a headline), jump to a conclusion and not really understand the point someone was trying to make. How to listen and respond on social media is a great topic.

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #4

#3
Thank you Marietta! There is definitely a hole in leadership training around listening. And virtually no one teaches you how to listen!

Phil Friedman

7 years ago #3

Larry Boyer - Every so often a post comes along that displays some outstanding insight. Yours here is one of those. I would add only that "listening" includes reading. And ask, how many of us really listen on social media? Or are too busy posting insipid comments that betray a total lack of interest in what others are "saying"? Leadership operates in many different venues. Kudos on this one. And cheers!

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #2

#1
Thanks Graham Edwards . I'm glad you found it useful!

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #1

I really like RASA... thanks for the informative buzz Larry Boyer

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