The two most important qualities for a leader to succeed are loyalty and respect. However, loyalty and respect do not come automatically by being a leader; they come by being a leader of influence.
An influential leader does not need to coerce their employees; they follow them willingly because they trust them to get the team to the desired goal. That is the power of influence. Attaining this level of influence takes commitment to learning specific skills; active listening is one of them.
What is Active Listening?
Active listening is a communication technique that entails focusing on the speaker in order to understand, retain, and thoughtfully respond to the information given.
This listening skill entails using verbal and nonverbal cues such as eye contact and nods to demonstrate to the speaker that you are paying close attention to them, which will help you maintain focus. It's also crucial to pay attention to the speaker's body language; this will help you understand the information better.
As a leader, active listening is one of the most important skills you can have. Listening leaders cultivate open, trusting relationships that procreate loyalty. When you listen to your employees, they know you have their best interests at heart. This listening skill helps you become a more effective and compassionate leader.
Active listening is frequently used in conflict resolution and interpersonal interactions to help you become more approachable. It's easier to get accurate feedback from your employees when you're approachable. Honest feedback from your employees is priceless, and your improvement as a leader of influence depends mainly on it.
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How to Engage in Active Listening
Active listening is a skill that entails listening with all of your senses and paying complete attention to the speaker. It's a listening skill that can be learned and honed with practice. It is not easy to master; it takes time and patience.
Do you aspire to be a more active listener? Here are some ways to practice active listening:
Give undivided attention
It's tempting to cut off the person speaking in the middle of a conversation, whether to counter their point of view or to point out something. Don't do this! Try to resist the urge to invalidate the speaker's point of view by interrupting; always remember that every interruption results in a break in engagement.
It can be challenging to adjust to sitting and listening quietly while your other person speaks freely at first. It would help if you made a conscious effort not to interrupt. Instead, maintain eye contact, nod, and smile to demonstrate that you are paying attention and following the speaker.
Short verbal affirmations, such as 'I understand,' 'Go ahead, please,' and 'yes, that makes sense,' provide positive feedback to the speaker, encouraging them to continue.
While paying attention, it's possible that your mind will wander away from the conversation in search of a solution, preventing you from hearing the speaker completely. This will make it difficult to understand what the speaker is saying; therefore, wait until the speaker has finished speaking before filling in the blanks for them. Then, you can ask questions that will help you gather more information and better understand the situation. Ensure your questions aren't judgmental but instead arise from a desire to learn more about the situation. 'What has been done?', 'What do you think can be done?', 'How do you see the situation?' are examples of questions to ask.
When the speaker is delivering disappointing news or update, resist the urge to lash out and react on the spur of the moment. Maintain a neutral stance and strategically consider the situation before responding. Your ability to remain composed in the face of adversity sets an example for your employees or team members and distinguishes you as an influential leader.
Give the right attitude
It's just as important for a leader to have the right attitude as it is to pay close attention when listening. The speaker receives the first feedback from your body language and facial expressions. The way you carry yourself will determine whether or not they feel welcomed.
When you think of a conversation as a waste of time, you're already on the wrong track, and you won't listen effectively, primarily when the information being delivered has a lot of twists and turns. Instead, go into the conversation with an open mind, ready and willing to listen to the speaker's point of view and changes in direction, and patiently wait to see where the speaker leads you. However, if the speaker is getting off track, don't be afraid to bring the conversation back on track. It is your responsibility to keep everyone focused and on track as a leader.
Demonstrate empathy as you listen. Empathy does not make you appear to be a weak person. Empathy is a crucial component of listening. Employees prefer leaders who are empathic and genuinely interested in who they are, someone who is concerned about their overall well-being both at work and at home. Seeing your employees as valuable assets rather than work tools will help you develop a stronger relationship with them.
Give feedback
When the speaker has finished speaking, give feedback by summarizing everything you've learned. Reiterating the key points provides the speaker with the assurance that you heard them and that a solution is not far away.
Here are some examples;
'If I understand you correctly, what you are saying is_______,'
'From our conversation thus far, I've deduced that______ is this correct?'
Before you respond, ask more questions to clarify the points you've made.
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Who's a Leader of Influence?
A leader of influence doesn't just listen; they also have an ability to impact others when communicating. The primary role of an influential leader is to influence employee engagement, commitment, loyalty, and culture. How? They influence their team members or employees by listening to impact others and how they perceive their value to the workplace.
An influential leader's primary responsibility is to influence employee productivity, loyalty, sense of responsibility, and culture. How? They steadily demonstrate excellent communication abilities.
Similarly, they recognize the value of listening, and it is through listening, they show their commitment to the organization and its people. Influential leaders don't just sit back and listen; they actively listen and seek information that others might overlook.
How Can Active Listening Make You A Leader of Influence?
Active listening is like the first drop of water that provides a ripple effect. When you begin to engage in active listening with your employees, they become more productive.
The following are some of the ways active listening can help you become a leader of influence;
Your employees feel heard
The principal root of problems between leaders and employees stems from the employee not feeling heard. Most employees believe that they are disposable tools that can be replaced as soon as they wear out; as a result, they will not give their all, affecting the team's overall productivity. All of that changes with active listening; when your employees know you value them as individuals, they are motivated to work harder and exceed your expectations.
It helps you build trust
Your employees will be more likely to confide in you and rely on you during times of professional and personal difficulty if they can bring a matter before you without being interrupted, judged, or belittled with an attitude because of their position on the work chain.
It aids in problem-solving
The ability to solve problems quickly and effectively is one of the qualities of an influential leader. When you can identify issues quickly, you can offer a solution as soon as possible. Active listening can help you pinpoint the source of a problem, such as the challenges affecting your employees' productivity or the roadblocks preventing them from completing a project on time.
You avoid missing critical information
You can effectively retain the information passed when you engage in active listening with your employees. This can help you in obtaining critical information that will assist you in leading the organization.
You broaden your knowledge on a variety of subjects.
Allowing your employees to speak freely may reveal that some of them are more knowledgeable on specific topics than you are. Actively listening to them will help you gain knowledge, broaden your horizons, and improve your leadership skills.
Being an influential leader stems from the ability to be an attentive listener. Your co-workers, team, or employees would respect and be loyal to you.
Adapting to this approach can be difficult at first because we are not natural listeners, but you will get better at it with practice.
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