By no means am I an expert in this; in fact, I’m one of the worst offenders I know (how’s that for honesty). But to become a better leader at the office and beyond, we have to be able to identify our weaknesses.
I recently came across this advice on LinkedIn:
“Be the last to speak. Whether it’s in a meeting or 1-1, try really hard to speak after everyone else. It creates a feeling that your team is being heard…it’s so easy to want to problem solve and share your experience so you can help someone develop. It’s even harder to practice this skill when time is limited, and you may only have 30 minutes. There are times where if you use this skill, you may reach the end of the meeting and have said nothing. It’s okay. Your goal is to make people feel heard, not to fall in love with the sound of your own voice.”
Now that’s some truth; vowing to become a better practitioner of this. One challenge that immediately comes to mind – to be an effective listener, it’s also incumbent on the speaker to be clear, concise and compelling in a world where effective verbal communication is becoming a lost art.
How do you balance deep listening with the need for speed in today’s corporate environment? Speed being the constant need for efficiency & quick decision-making given competing priorities.
Comment below.
