Active Listening: the Secret of Effective and EQ-Driven Leaders

Active Listening: the Secret of Effective and EQ-Driven Leaders

While communication is the cornerstone of human relationships, many people overlook its most important part: active listening. This skill is essential for managers in particular, but it’s actually useful for anyone, whether it’s a meeting at work, a conversation with friends or settling a family dispute.

What is active listening?

In active listening, we listen fully to the other person, understand their message and give feedback on what we have heard. This means not only listening to the words, but also interpreting the emotions, body language and the connections between them.

Why is active listening important for leaders?

1. Building trust: when employees feel they are really listened to, they have more trust in the leader. This trust is essential for effective teamwork and a productive workplace climate.
2. Preventing and managing conflict: active listening allows leaders to understand problems and their roots more deeply before they become serious. This leads to timely intervention and effective solutions.
3. Better decision making: by actively listening, the manager gets more information and can form a more comprehensive picture on which to base more informed decisions.
4. Encouraging innovation and creativity: active listening creates a safe space for the free exchange of ideas, which fosters innovation and creative solutions.

How to develop active listening skills?

1. Note: Shut out external distractions and concentrate fully on the person you are talking to. Avoid multitasking during communication.
2. Body language: we show that we are listening by nodding, maintaining eye contact and open posture.
3. Feedback: from time to time, repeat back in your own words what the other person has said, to confirm that you have understood their message correctly.
4. Empathy: Try to understand the other person’s feelings and point of view, even if you disagree with them.
5. Open questions: ask open questions to encourage the other party to explain further, thus deepening understanding.

Developing active listening requires constant practice, but the energy invested pays off handsomely. Whether in a leadership role or in everyday life situations, active listening skills are a key tool for effective and valuable communication. Start today and experience the difference such a simple yet powerful change can make!

Attila Jezsó

Got a question? Contact us and together we will put together a tailor-made development package. We’ll even support you on the spot with consultants and coaches to make the change a success!

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