Coaching Yourself to Leadership: Five Key Strategies for Becoming an Integrated Leader

Listening Skills for Leaders

Listening skills are critical to communication, and they are a key component in being assertive. If we can’t “hear” what other people are saying—that is, if we don’t get what they mean—we can easily misunderstand them. If we misunderstand others, we won’t respond properly. Think about all the miscommunication that goes on everyday in the workplace. As a leader, it’s your job to make sure that you actively listen on a deep level to those around you in order to have a good understanding of what people want and need so that you can properly guide them. Active listening is a key skill required for leading, mentoring, and coaching.

Each of us listens in particular ways. Shaped by our experiences and our psyche, we hear ...