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RISING WOMEN EXPERT
ADVICE...
Is active listening really the best
approach to build relationships within my team?
To build relationships within your team, improve your active listening
skills. Active listening is one of the most important and most underutilized
business skill that promotes understanding; and understanding what the other
person is saying is the foundation upon which relationships are built.
Active listening is a simple process: eliminating distractions,
paraphrasing, inquiry, and empathizing.
Eliminating distractions so that when you are listening to the other person,
you are really listening to them. Give the other person your full attention.
Rather than think about what to say or how you will respond, listen
carefully, and you will know what to say when the other person is finished
talking. The proper way to build relationships is to listen generously by
giving your undivided attention.
Paraphrasing means to restate the key points you heard as accurately and
completely as possible. Effective paraphrasing brings several benefits.
First, it helps you keep track of what the other person has said. Second, it
gives the other person the opportunity to clarify their message thereby
reducing the likelihood for later misunderstandings. Finally, accurate
paraphrasing conveys that you are developing a greater and deeper
understanding of the other person’s point of view.
Inquiry challenges the other person to unveil the reasoning behind their
point of view. Active listeners test their understanding of the other
person’s point of view by asking open-ended questions - questions that
require elaboration rather than a simple yes or no. Your questions should
come from not only your knowledge and experience but also from the
information you get from actively listening. When you pose questions that
give you a deeper understanding, you open the door for further discussion
and more importantly, you demonstrate a willingness to work together.
Empathizing requires you to listen for the feelings behind the words that
prompt the other person to say what they are saying. Beyond paraphrasing
what the other person has said, let them know that you understand not only
the content but also the perceived thoughts and feelings involved. Listen
carefully for the feelings and use open-ended questions to probe for
meaning.
Excellent and successful leaders are outstanding listeners who have
developed and sharpened their active listening skills. Active listening is
the best approach to building relationships within your team.
Need expert advice on developing a team? Contact Colleen
Lily Winston, MA, CHRP at 403.547.4615 or email
clilywinston@shaw.ca
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