Be A Better Listener: 4 Ways To Improve Workplace Communication

When you’re thinking about the tools in your leadership toolbox, what comes to mind when you think about improving and honing your skills?

Many of us would consider doing a corporate training or working with an executive coach to improve our executive presence, empower your people, or even our conflict-resolution abilities, but we rarely make an effort to improve our listening skills.

When “I just want to be heard” is one of the most common statements in the modern workplace, we really should be thinking about how we can take better note of what is truly being said. If you want to get ahead, learn to listen. Read on for my guide on making your discussions more about what you hear, than what you say.

Listen without agenda

Most often, workplace conversations start with a specific intent -– a need to convey feedback or instructions, or the desire to get a particular piece of information.

Rarely do we enter into a conversation intending to allow the other person to guide the flow of dialog, especially not if they hold a junior position in the organization.