How To Lead By Listening Well Connect Mobilize Deliver podcast

4y ago 32:15

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In this solo episode, I discuss what I believe to be one of the most important career skills for any leader: listening well.

I've written on this topic many times here on the blog, but I wanted to dive deeper into a few of those posts and add some thoughts that will help you set yourself apart as a leader.

Most people think they're above average listeners, but the truth is we can all improve in this area.

If you want to build or boost your career, check out this episode to learn how you can lead others with kindness and confidence by listening well.

You'll Learn

2 questions to continually ask yourself to be a better listener
How to avoid "after-meeting regret" by asking for clarification immediately while listening
5 phrases to use to ask for clarification in a non-threatening way
3 reasons we aren't good listeners
3 actions we can take immediately to improve our listening skills
Why listening well improves the diversity and inclusion of an organization

3 Fundamental Career Skills Related to Today's Episode

1. A mindset of service

Serving others as a leader, or servant leadership as some call it, is essential to building a career that is not only successful, but also meaningful. Listening well starts with truly valuing others and seeking to serve them.

2. Empathy

Being able to empathize and understand another person's perspective is critical to listening well. And, as we seek to better understand the person speaking to us, we will become more effective transmitters of information as well.
Empathy is a fundamental career skill all expert communicators continually practice and refine.

3. Humility

Humility applies directly to listening. When we are listening well, we are acknowledging that we don't know everything. We are admitting that we can learn from what another person has to say.
Humility as a leader also gives us the freedom to admit when we get distracted and miss what someone has said to us.
When we don't take ourselves too seriously and resist the pride within us, we can invest our mental energy in focusing on what our team member is telling us instead of thinking about how we are going to respond.

Links and Resources from this Episode

Listening expert, Oscar Trimboli's website

Dan Oblinger's book, Life or Death Listening: A Hostage Negotiator's How-to Guide to Mastering the Essential Communication Skill on Amazon or locally in Wichita, Kansas at Eighth Day Books

Michael Bungay Stanier's books, The Advice Trap and The Coaching Habit

The blog posts discussed in this episode:

For More Information
Check out the full show notes on the episode page at GregHarrod.com.

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