Category: Listening Development
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LISTENING-BASED INNOVATION
Listening leads to learning, which sets the stage for innovation. Innovation is more likely when employees are well informed about the customer, unafraid to try something new, and committed to the organization’s success. Charles Schwab uses multiple methods to listen for customers’ dreams that often start with the phrase, “I know it’s not possible, but…
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LISTENING LEADERS ARE SEARCHERS AND SEEKERS
Listening leaders are searchers and seekers. They cultivate a listening habit of curiosity. Although they recognize the simple reality, ‘We cannot listen to all people talk on all things at all times,” productive listeners are careful not to turn off their listening prematurely. They listen optimistically and seek to share the speaker’s enthusiasm for and…
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THE COSTS OF NOT LISTENING ARE MOUNTING UP!
THE COSTS ARE MOUNTING UP! The following real example submitted by a listening leader, who wants to go anonymous, shows what happens when listening breakdowns occur. “I am a part of a sales team for a retail store in a large mall. For reasons of confidentiality, I will not mention which one. Over the past…
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THE HARD WORK OF ATTENTION
In the best selling book The Road Less Traveled, author M. Scott Peck emphasizes the work of attention. He states that “Listening well is an exercise of attention and by necessity hard work. It is because most people do not realize this or they are not willing to do the work that they do not…
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SHOW UP AND BE THE DIFFERENCE-MAKER
The emerging form of leadership in our fast-paced, hectic world is counter-cultural – MINDFULNESS…being attentive, focused, responsive and clear. Unfortunately, too many times it is the opposite. Here’s an example from a Human Resources manager: “I attended a mandatory meeting of salaried employees at my company. There were about forty people in the audience. The…
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FIGHTING THE INNER ASSESSMENT
Two competitive U.S. corporations were working on a joint project. The first step was to build a team composed of engineers from both companies. They were all very committed. The project was going to be profitable for both companies ($650 million over 2 years), and yet nothing was moving forward. It seemed that nothing could…
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LISTENING IS HARD WORK
Morgan Scott Peck was an American psychiatrist and best-selling author, well known for his first book, The Road Less Traveled. In this classic, he emphasized, “Listening well is an exercise of attention and by necessity hard work. It is because most people do not realize this or they are not willing to do the work…
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THE POWER OF DEEP LISTENING
The term ‘active listening’ is a frequently used term that means a person is a great listener. But the reality is that a person could be faking it, engaging in surface listening and send off the impression that they are ‘actively listening’. If you are one of those who uses ‘active listening’, I invite you…
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VOICE TONE – IT’S YOUR CHOICE
How is your tone of voice? Researchers claim that up to 40% of your verbal communication is made through tone of voice. Sometimes, it’s even more than that. The 4 elements of voice tone (pitch, speed, volume and emphasis) combine to form an important part of the meaning of your messages. To underscore the importance,…
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LISTENING LEADERS TAKE NOTES
A fundamental tool for listening leaders is taking notes. Although you may periodically take notes when you are on the phone or in meetings, the majority of leaders normally do not take written notes. The following 6 suggestions are designed to help you improve your note-taking ability: 1. Be prepared and decide whether or…