09/05/2023
Leadership Insight #2 – Listening with the Intent to Understand
Last week, I talked about how we typically listen with the intent to reply. I discussed how that can get in the way of connecting with others. This week, I want to discuss a higher level of listening, listening with the intent to understand.
As a Business Owner and a Consultant, Effective Communication is essential. In many cases, I work with clients who are dealing with complex problems. As such, I need to make sure that I truly understand what the problem is. If I listen with the intent to reply, our conversation becomes more of a back-and-forth discussion, each making our points.
Listening to Understand means you listen to a person’s words, emotions, and feelings. It involves suspending judgment and trying to capture what their words mean to them. You ask clarifying questions and focus on seeing things from their perspective. It’s about connecting and coming to a common understanding.
Once you understand what the other person is trying to say, then you share your ideas. This allows you to change or modify your communication based on your understanding of what the other is telling you. The exciting thing is that this has often helped me realize the root cause of a problem and focus on what I can do to help them begin to solve it.
Next week, we will start talking about how important it is for leaders to listen to their employees.
