Titles to Come

Delegation or Death
Win/Win-There is enough to share
Assertiveness, Have to push your Opinions thouhg
Organization is key
Goal Setting will take you to the top
Servant Leaders
Leading by Example and not by talk
Taking Command, Being Bossy
Turning on your Extrovertedness
Going from good to best
Being Fair-Fairing is Caring
Public Speaking is our biggest fear
Put together a Presenatation
Were we born leaders...Hopefully not
Charisma-is it helpful..Yes
Not always being like as a leader
Composure, Posture, and Attitude

Active Listening and the Evolution of Listening

What is listening? Is it really a key to leadership? Yes! How can you really understand the problems that your colleagues, employees, volunteers, or subordinates have if you don’t actively commit to hearing their problems. You can partake in active listening. Active listening is the first step a horrible listener can do in order to improve their listening skills. This process involves eye contact, head movement, body placement and angles. When your colleague, peer, or sibling talks to you, eye contact is very important. It shows that you are truly in sync with what the person is telling you and that you are trying to make an effort to listen. If eyes are the gateway to the soul, then eye contact is the way into their soul. Next head movements are important. Nodding is a good way to show that you are paying attention. But don’t nod too much because it seems inauthentic. An occasional nod along with eye contact, gives the speaker a feeling that you are attentive. Lastly slightly angle your body toward the speaker. Leaning in creates a feeling of trust. Also a bit of interruptive talk is good. A dead silence may seem awkward.

Then there is an evolution of active listening. Many times active listening usually consists of listening and then regurgitating the information to the speaker. The listener is acting like they are actively participating in the evaluation of the speaker’s problems, but in actuality is just being a good actor. The evolution of active listening involves you changing inwardly and actually wanting to help the speaker. The listening process must be clear of judgment and bias; only listen and completely learn the problem before giving any advice. Usually people interrupt the person talking and begin to analyze the speaker’s situation before they completely speak their problems. This wrong type of listening leads to alienation of the speaker and in many cases a misinterpretation of the speaker’s issues. First listen intently to the problem and don’t internally start to evaluate the issue or begin to interrupt the speaker until it has completely been explained.

Figure out why they told you the problem and then you will realize which method of listening is best. Sometimes a person wants you just to listen to their problems and other times they want you to give them your advice or opinions on a situation. Basic active listening is a good method for the former and the evolved form of active listening is good for the latter.