Are you Listening?

As an editor for almost 25 years, I’ve done a lot listening. At job sites, manufacturing facilities, trade shows and phone interviews, the content I’ve received by listening forms the foundation of my occupation’s output. Back in 1986 when I graduated from Michigan State University, I got my very first job because the interviewer thought I was “a good listener.” If you were to ask my friends and family what my superpower was, they too would probably affirm this and say, “He’s a good listener.”

Being a good listener isn’t something that comes naturally to all people. It is not an inherent trait but a skill to be learned. And for all employees—no matter what their role — it’s an imperative skill. You will need it throughout your entire life, in every aspect. Kate Murphy sums it up best in her book, You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why it Matters when she writes, “Evolution gave us eyelids so we can close our eyes but no corresponding structure to close off our ears. It suggests listening is essential to our survival.”

I wanted to share information that came to me via the National Roof Contractors Association. In a recent blog, they shared information from Harvard Business Review about how the following techniques can help you become a better listener.

Listen until the end. It is crucial to be fully present when you are listening. When someone else is talking, people often plan what to say while the other person is still speaking or interrupt with a solution or similar story. If you find you are prone to this behavior, pause and remind yourself to listen until the end. Once the other person finishes, take a moment to think about what you have heard before responding. 

Listen to summarize—not solve. Are you listening to solve or to understand? It can be tempting for leaders to try to solve every problem, but it is important to first focus on understanding the big picture. When the other person has finished speaking, reflect on what you have heard and summarize what they said to confirm you understand them correctly.

Listen for the relationship and the content. Listening involves your connection with the other person (relationship) and the information he or she is communicating (content). Many people tend to lean toward one of those when listening, so it is important to find a balance. Listen with empathy and understanding to build trust in the relationship, but be ready to ask tough questions and discuss next steps regarding the content.

Listen for values. When someone is talking to you, it is a chance to learn more about and understand what is important to the individual. This involves building your intuition and perception skills when listening. Understanding how people’s values affect their behavior in the workplace can be an amazing leadership skill because values often influence what situations we perceive as challenging and how we respond to them.

Can you benefit from this auditory advice? I did. Meanwhile, as I settle in to my inaugural year as Editor in Chief of Roofing, I value your editorial input and welcome your feedback. I’ll be listening.