Listening as a Tool for Organizational Success

💛 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗻: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 💛 𝙀𝙭𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 often brings to mind confidence, charisma, and the ability to command a room. But true presence goes beyond merely speaking well—it’s about 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 and 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺. 💛I love the 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 "𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻" (“聽“ pronounced tīng). Listening is an art. The character symbolizes listening with our ear (耳) as you would pay attention to the king (王) 👑 a call to elevate listening to royal importance. In listening, we observing with our eyes (目) and listening from the heart (心), giving full focus on the person (ten is completion) (十). 💛 𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗵𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝟳-𝟯𝟴-𝟱𝟱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 Words account for only 7% of our spoken message, while 38% comes from tone and voice, and a massive 55% from body language. If leaders listen only to words, they miss over 90% of what’s truly being communicated! To genuinely connect, we must tune in not just to the content but also to the tone, emotions, and unspoken signals in the room. Too often, leaders default to delivering a message one way, projecting their ideas without tuning into the signals around them. When we read our audience with an open mind and heart, we get a clearer picture of what’s really happening within our teams, with our customers, and throughout our organization. Actively listening is how we adapt and thrive. 💛 That is why coaching is the foundation of strong leadership. Before I launched my leadership programs, I began with an International Coaching Federation (ICF) coach certification program. Learning to listen at every level—words, body language, and tone—means that as leaders, we don’t just give instructions; we hear and understand. And that’s how we truly lead. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 👑 #𝟭 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 Focus fully on the speaker—eye contact, nodding, and an open posture signal that you’re present. Listen not to respond but to understand. 👑 #𝟮 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 Be attuned to shifts in tone and pace. Often, emotions tell us more than the words themselves. 👑 #𝟯 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 Recap what you’ve understood and check if you got it right. This shows respect, encourages open dialogue, and ensures you’re truly on the same page. "𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩." 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙚𝙮 How do you practice listening as a leader? Share your thoughts below! #ExecutivePresence #Listen #LeadershipSkills #Coaching #Speaker #Leadership #Trainer #Coach #trust

💡𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸? As technical experts, leaders are often very skilled at presenting complex information. But communication isn't just about talking—it's about truly hearing what others are saying. As an executive coach and management professor, I've observed that the most transformative leaders are often those who have mastered the art of active listening. Active listening is more than a soft skill—it's a strategic leadership competency that can revolutionize workplace dynamics, boost employee engagement, and drive organizational performance. Let me break down five critical components of active listening that can turn ordinary managers into exceptional leaders: 1️⃣ 𝘼𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙅𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: Create an open channel for learning and connection - Suspend your preconceptions and personal biases. - Approach conversations with genuine curiosity and openness. - Recognize that your role is to understand, not to immediately evaluate or critique. 2️⃣ 𝘼𝙘𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜: Validate the speaker's experience - Use non-verbal cues like maintaining eye contact and nodding. - Provide verbal affirmations that demonstrate you're actively engaged, paying attention, and interested in what they are saying. - Reflect back emotions you're sensing to show deep empathy and understanding. 3️⃣ 𝘼𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨: Dive deeper into understanding - Craft open-ended questions that invite meaningful dialogue. - Use probing questions to uncover underlying motivations and perspectives. - Show genuine interest in the speaker's thought process, not just the surface-level information. 4️⃣ 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜: Ensure you're on the same page - Paraphrase key points to confirm your interpretation. - Ask clarifying questions to eliminate potential misunderstandings. - Demonstrate that you've not just heard, but truly comprehended the message. 5️⃣ 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜: Provide thoughtful, constructive feedback - Respond with empathy and respect. - Offer insights that build upon the speaker's perspective. - Create a collaborative dialogue that moves toward solutions. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 Active listening is a powerful leadership skill that can transform organizational culture. It builds trust, enhances collaboration, and creates an environment where employees feel genuinely heard and valued. This week I'm training senior leaders at the World Health Organization how to give and receive feedback skillfully. If you are interested in elevating your organization's communication and performance, let's connect and discuss how we can unlock your team's full potential. 💡 Leadership Development Workshops 🔍 Executive Coaching 📊 Performance Management & Coaching Skills Training #LeadershipDevelopment #ActiveListening #Feedback #ExecutiveCoaching

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 & 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀  🎧💡 In a world where everyone is eager to speak, few take the time to truly listen. Listening is not about agreeing; it’s about understanding. A while back, during a strategy meeting across one of our business ventures, different teams had conflicting ideas, each convinced their solution was the best. Instead of jumping in with a decision, I chose to listen - really listen. I asked more questions, encouraged every viewpoint, and let the conversation unfold. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁? A breakthrough idea emerged, combining the strengths of all perspectives. Had I spoken first, we might have missed it. When people feel unheard, they become defensive. When they feel understood, they become open to discussion. This is true in leadership, business, and even everyday conversations. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 ✅ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 & 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 When leaders genuinely listen, employees and colleagues feel valued and respected. This fosters trust and strengthens relationships. ✅ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 Great ideas don’t come from one person alone. By listening to your team, you gain diverse perspectives, leading to better solutions and strategies. ✅ 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 When employees feel heard, they are more willing to share ideas and take initiative, driving innovation in the workplace. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 Listening allows leaders to understand different viewpoints, helping them mediate disputes with empathy and clarity. ✅ 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗲 & 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱—they want to be heard and understood. A leader who listens creates a culture where employees feel motivated and engaged. This video perfectly illustrates how active listening can change the way we connect with others. Instead of reacting, dismissing, or arguing, we should: ✔️𝗣𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻—Not to reply, but to understand. ✔️ 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀—Validation doesn’t mean agreement, it means respect. ✔️𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆—When people feel heard, they are more open to dialogue. ✔️𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 – Encourage deeper conversations and better insights by being curious. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 Speaking less doesn’t mean being silent—it means choosing your words wisely while ensuring every voice is heard. 💬 Have you ever changed someone’s mind simply by listening? #Leadership #ActiveListening #Empathy #TrustBuilding #CommunicationMatters #ActiveListening #BusinessGrowth #TeamSuccess

I worked with a leader who had all the answers for what to do with technology and yet was rarely correct. Why listening to employees is my top productivity hack and how every leader can do it better. I’ve learned that some of the best insights don’t come from strategy decks or consultants. They come from the people closest to the work. When employees feel genuinely heard, three things happen: 1. Problems surface before they become crises. 2. Smarter, simpler solutions emerge. 3. Engagement skyrockets, because people know their voices matter. Listening isn’t passive. It’s active leadership. It means asking better questions, pausing long enough to hear the answers, and creating space where people feel safe to speak truthfully. The ROI is real: fewer blind spots, more innovation, and stronger trust. In the end, listening isn’t just about productivity. It’s about culture. And culture is what drives performance. You don't have to be the smartest person in the room if you can just be the best listener.

Maybe it’s easy for me to say, as a flaming (🔥) introvert, but what is the most underrated leadership skill? Listening. In a world that often rewards the loudest voice in the room, it's easy to forget that real influence doesn’t always come from speaking—it comes from truly hearing others. When leaders listen deeply, they signal respect. They create space for others to feel seen, valued, and safe. And in that space, trust takes root. Listening helps leaders: ▪️ Uncover perspectives they might otherwise miss ▪️ Make more informed decisions ▪️ Strengthen relationships ▪️ Build cultures of inclusion and engagement (Which matters in 2025 more than ever!) Anyone can speak. But to listen with intent—without interrupting, problem-solving, or waiting for your turn to talk—that takes humility and discipline. And the paradox? The more a leader listens, the more their words carry weight when they do speak. TLDR? In leadership, silence isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.

Do you know why some leaders inspire while others merely manage? The difference is active listening. Leadership isn’t a one-way street. It’s a dialogue: a continuous exchange that strengthens teams, builds trust, and fuels growth. And it all begins with active listening. Leaders who listen inspire their teams to give their best. Research shows just how much listening matters: Gallup reports that employees who feel heard are 4.6 times more likely to perform at their best. On the flip side, poor listening accounts for 60% of workplace misunderstandings and errors. Here’s what I focus on to ensure I’m leading with my ears as much as my words: ✅ Put distractions aside: Phones down, laptops closed. When someone speaks, my attention is fully theirs. ✅ Ask open-ended questions: Ones that go beyond surface answers and invite deeper perspectives. ✅ Engage visibly: I make eye contact, nod, and use small cues to show I’m following along and valuing each word. These might seem like small habits, but they make a big impact. They build trust and make people feel valued, and it’s something I believe every leader should adopt. Listening is the bedrock of genuine leadership. When your team knows their voices matter, you foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and growth. Because, ultimately, leaders who don’t listen will eventually surround themselves with people who have nothing to say. #ActiveListening #InspiringTeams #EmployeeEngagement #CultureOfTrust

What’s the one thing all great leaders have in common? They’re not born; they’re built. Here’s how👇🏾 When I first stepped into a leadership role, I thought the key was having all the answers. But after founding A Little Bit Techy and running a luxury watch brand, A Few Wood Men, I’ve learned that: Leadership isn’t about talking 👉🏾 It's about listening. Here’s why effective listening is a leader’s greatest strength: 1️⃣ Listening Builds Trust. When your team feels heard, they feel valued. It’s not just about nodding, it’s about truly understanding. 2️⃣ Listening Drives Creativity. Some of the best ideas come from the quietest voices. Create space for them to be heard, and you’ll unlock great potential. 3️⃣ Listening Strengthens Team Dynamics. Miscommunication kills collaboration. But when leaders actively listen, clarity replaces confusion. 4️⃣ Listening Supports Workforce Development and OCM. Hearing your team’s needs helps create tailored development plans. This leads to smoother change management and organizational growth. Here’s what I’ve learned about becoming an effective listener: ➤ Ask open-ended questions. Instead of directing conversations, guide them with curiosity. ➤ Pause before responding. Moments of silence often lead to deeper insights. ➤ Act on what you hear. Listening without follow-up is worse than not listening at all. True leaders don’t just listen to reply. They listen to learn. The next time you’re in a meeting, try this: 🔹 Hold back your opinion. 🔹 Invite others to speak first. 🔹 Take notes. Reflect. Then decide. It’s not easy, but it’s transformative. Because great leaders aren’t the loudest voices in the room. They’re the ones who hear what others can’t. ♻ Repost this if you believe leaders who listen effectively shape the future. P.S. What’s one way you’ve seen listening improve leadership? Let’s discuss in comments. #Leadership #WorkforceDevelopment #OrganizationalChange