It’s best to admit it. It really is.
Most of the time, we’re not listening to understand.
We’re listening to respond. And here’s the thing: When we’re not listening with empathy and context, we’re quietly damaging relationships instead of strengthening them.
This problem holds true in leadership, sales, parenting, and teamwork.
To fix it, we have to look at what poor listening actually looks like versus how we should actually listen:
Pretending to listen
Waiting for your turn to talk
Listening just so you can defend your point
Vs.
Listening to truly understand
Listening with empathy
Listening to understand the why and context
The quality of your listening determines:
- The quality of your leadership.
- The quality of your relationships.
- The quality of your sales conversations.
- Ultimately, the quality of your results.
When you’re ready to become a better communicator, start with becoming a better listener.
Which listening type do you catch yourself falling into most often?
Looking to advance your team’s listening skills? Connect with an Executive Coach today.
