Profiles In Leadership - Taking The Right Steps

outcomes we are looking for” (Younger, 2024, p. 1). Effective listening fosters trust, encourages open communication, and creates an environment where team members feel valued and heard.

To master the art of active listening:

1. Be Present : Lean in and give your team members your full attention. Avoid multitasking or interrupting. 2. Seek to Understand : Listen with the intent to understand, not just to respond. Ask clarifying questions and reflect on what you’ve heard. 3. Create Brave Spaces : Encourage openness by clarifying that all voices are valued and respected. 4. Implement Their Ideas : Recognize the value of an idea, even if it is better than yours. Be willing to test it by putting it into action. Invite the team member into the ownership of their concept and celebrate them when it makes an impact. Leaders who listen actively gain valuable insights into their teams, build stronger relationships, and are better prepared to make informed decisions. Listening also fosters trust, demonstrating to employees that their opinions and experiences are important. Resource: Younger, H. R. (2024). Leadership and the art of active listening. Leader to Leader, 2024 (111), 13-19.

https://doi.org/10.1002/ltl.20782

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