Communicating Effectively

Make someone feel heard

Key Takeaways:

To gain real respect from your team you need to ensure that you are actively listening to them, both to what they say and don’t say.

There is a real distinction between merely hearing the words and really listening for the message. When you listen effectively, you understand what the person is thinking and/or feeling from the other person’s own perspective.

Your own viewpoint may be different, and you may not necessarily agree with the person, but as you listen, you’ll understand from the other person’s perspective.

What does active listening look like for leaders?

Accurately hearing what is said, displaying that you are listening and making appropriate eye contact with your team member

Talking and listening using non-verbal cues

Paraphrasing, reflecting and summarising to clarify the information

Asking Open instead of Closed questions. So using words that start with what, how, when, where, or who. But avoid using ‘why’ as this can convey a sense of interrogation

Asking probing questions to dig deeper into the detail

Sources

Video Source: Sinek, S. (2021, October 27). The Art of Listening: Simon Sinek. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpnNsSyDw-g

Simon Sinek