Active Listening: Improve Your Ability to Listen and Lead, Second Edition, 2nd Edition
by Center for Creative Leadership
BARRIERS TO ACTIVE LISTENING
Most people would see some of the skills and behaviors associated with active listening as basic courtesy (not interrupting, for example). But other active listening skills (such as asking clarifying questions) are less familiar and may require instruction and practice. Leaders who seek to improve their active listening skills may face a number of barriers.
The Image of Leadership
The role of listening may contradict common cultural notions of what a leader is. In a society that values leaders who are action-oriented, charismatic, visionary, and directive, the expectation is that leaders should have the answers, call the shots, and do all the talking. This emphasis on the performance of leaders cuts into their ability ...