What happens when we listen to someone but do not really hear them?
As a leadership coach, I've seen highly successful technical professionals with impressive experience who don’t know what to do when people share their feelings, complaints, and regrets.
What is missing?
🔔 Encourage the manager to practice active listening. This involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said.
🔔 Help the manager develop empathy towards their team members. Encourage them to put themselves in others' shoes and understand their perspective. This can go a long way in building trust and improving communication.
🔔 Emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence. Help the manager recognize and understand their own emotions as well as those of their team members. This awareness can lead to better communication and more effective leadership.
How to start?
Simple steps for a manager to consider every Sunday/Monday (the first day of your working week):
1️⃣ Monday Morning Huddle - Active Listening:
Start the week with a team huddle focused on active listening. Ensure everyone has a chance to share without interruptions. Model active listening to set a positive tone for open communication. Challenge yourself with summarizing the information you've just received in a single sentence.
2️⃣ Empathy Team Building Activity:
Incorporate a team-building activity that emphasizes empathy. This could involve sharing challenges or a "walk in my shoes" exercise to promote understanding and collaboration.
3️⃣ Emotional Intelligence Self-Reflection:
Allocate time for a brief self-reflection session on emotional intelligence. Provide resources to help the team recognize and understand their emotions, fostering improved awareness throughout the week.
To address team complaints and enhance leadership effectiveness, consider implementing these simple steps each Sunday/Monday. Fostering a positive work environment and improved communication will affect your team's inner energy and effectiveness.
Share your insights on how these strategies resonate with your leadership approach or if you have additional tips.
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