How to Improve Leadership Communication - Lead through Active Listening
One of the foundational principles in The Savage Leader is about using communication to build meaningful, long-lasting bonds with your team. Savage Principle #3 is “Forge Unbreakable Bonds with Your Tribe” and highlights how active listening, curiosity, humility, and the use of powerful questions will improve your leadership communication while also building and deepening relationships with your team members.
Most courses and books skip past these essential aspects of leadership communication and move immediately to helping leaders improve their executive presence and the ability to command the respect of their team. Those are surely important skills, but the path to becoming a great communicator is from the inside out and starts with these critical mindsets and skills.
Below is an excerpt from The Savage Leader that highlights the importance of active listening and provides practical tips to start being a better listener. A Savage Listener.
How Active Listening Improves Leadership Communication
“I listen to my team,” is a common phrase I hear leaders say.
Yet how many leaders truly listen? It turns out, most people listen at 25 percent efficiency. Listening requires being present in the moment, having a curiosity to learn, and the humility to accept that they don’t have all the answers.
A few years back, I observed a CEO excitedly express his desire for his team to vocalize their perspectives and take ownership of the firm and its success. But when it came time to support this decree with action, the CEO unfortunately affirmed the opposite. As team members chimed in during leadership meetings, I could see the impatience on his face—he wanted to jump in and resume control of the conversation, and he did. By railroading team members, he caused people to withhold their opinions. For those who did share, they spoke in hyper-speed—knowing the clock was ticking and their CEO was about to cut them off at any time.
The meetings failed and it was because of the CEO.
What prevented this CEO from listening? The easy answer was his desire for rapid action. But the deeper answer was that he lacked curiosity to learn and the humility to accept that others might know more than him on a given topic.
Active Listening in Action
In contrast, I observed a CEO of a large public company casually sit back during leadership meetings and listen to all of the perspectives in the room. Not listening to drive consensus, but to ensure team members felt heard and valued and so all perspectives were on the table.
If I walked blindly into that room, I would never have known who the CEO was at first glance. He only punctuated his perspective and direction at the end of each agenda item, opting to give his team the time and space for their contributions.
That was Savage listening.
Key Takeaway
As you engage your team, choke back the desire to assert and influence, and just listen. Hear what is being said and what isn’t. Watch for body language including posture, facial expressions, and gestures—those are keys to help us better understand people and what they’re thinking and feeling. Listening can help you learn, engage more deeply, and empower your colleagues.
Savage Leaders are active listeners who provide time and space for others to contribute.
Want More Content Like This?
If you liked this post, be sure to buy a copy of The Savage Leader. You can also sign-up for The Savage Leader Newsletter to gain access to similar articles that will help you on your pursuit to becoming a great leader. The monthly email contains quick practical tips to help you become a better leader from the inside out. Join other Savage Leaders in your pursuit of greatness!