Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Good managers talk but great managers listen!

by February 5, 2024
February 5, 2024
Good managers talk but great managers listen!

In the intricate world of management, promoting individuals for technical abilities often overlooks the crucial requirement for interpersonal skills.

This can leave many managers unprepared to handle the challenges of leading diverse teams, highlighting the importance of active listening as a frequently overlooked yet essential soft skill.

Lost in Translation:  managers without listening know-how

The main problem occurs when managers are promoted to leadership roles without sufficient training in active listening. This lack of skill not only hinders their ability to understand and connect with team members but also affects the overall unity and efficiency of the team.  They are told they will learn on the job, but at whose expense, I ask?

Time Crunch or Just Excuses:  the listening dilemma

One commonly cited reason for the disregard of active listening is the perceived lack of time. Managers often say that they don’t have the luxury to engage in prolonged listening conversations. However, reframing this perspective reveals that investing time in listening is not just a discretionary luxury but a strategic necessity for fostering a healthy and productive workplace culture.

Active Listening: More than just another buzzword

Digging deeper, active listening is key to shaping a workplace culture that values authenticity and inclusivity. It goes beyond just a communication skill; it becomes a vital aspect of building an environment where individuals feel recognised, accepted, and comfortable expressing their true selves.

Meet Mary:  Platitudes and loneliness

Mary, an experienced lawyer, is facing a personal crisis at home. Dealing with both a strained relationship with her husband and the recent loss of her mother, Mary is grappling with intense emotional turmoil.

Her husband, uncertain about how to support her through the grief, distances himself, intensifying Mary’s feelings of isolation. This emotional gap extends to her workplace, where colleagues, unsure of how to broach the sensitive topic, inadvertently contribute to an overall lack of communication around her.

This resulting emptiness leaves Mary feeling profoundly lonely, capturing emotions of sorrow, isolation, and deep grief. Despite the availability of the company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Mary hesitates to seek support, concerned about opening up to professional counsellors about her vulnerabilities.

Her manager offers cliches to her ‘it could be worse!’  Cliches, clichés, cliches – why do we resort to using them? That’s simple, we use them when we are uncertain about what else to say, often filling spaces with these overused expressions.

Shh… Silence Speaks Volumes:  And speaking of filling spaces, how good are you at keeping silent?   John, a member of your marketing team, recently lost his job. While you’re skilled at offering ‘reassurances’ like ‘everything happens for a reason,’ ..  ‘you’ll get a better job’…there’s a chance to improve by actively listening and offering real support. It’s okay to admit if you’re unsure of what to say, rather than relying on clichés. Being present and acknowledging the difficulty of the situation can be more meaningful.

Recognising the power of silence in communication, the message emphasises that effective listening isn’t just about using words. Allowing moments of silence provides individuals the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings at their own pace, building an empathic connection with you.

Building a Listening Culture:  Creating a culture of listening goes beyond just talking about it. It means embedding values like caring, empathy, and understanding into the core of the company. This turns these values from abstract ideas into practical aspects of the organisational ethos.

ROI of Listening: Loyalty, Commitment, and Corporate Reputation: A workplace that values listening not only builds loyalty and commitment among employees but also enhances the company’s reputation as a preferred employer, contributing to staff retention and overall team dedication.

It’s a Win-Win! Active listening is not just a moral duty but a strategic investment in the success of both the team and the organisation. Encouraging a culture that values and practices active listening turns the workplace into a fertile ground for innovation, collaboration, and sustained growth.

It’s a good deal for both individual and collective success in the team and the business.  And I like a good deal!  How about you?

Read more:
Good managers talk but great managers listen!

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Jeremy Hunt orders review ‘to end tourist tax’ costing retailers £11M
next post
Labour considers watering down plans for private equity tax raid

You may also like

Tories plan stamp duty cut to win over...

October 21, 2023

Startup bank headed by Lord Mandelson raises £25m...

January 14, 2024

Unite union threatens legal action over cuts to...

November 4, 2024

UK inflation rises to 2.2%

August 14, 2024

How Job Hopping Can Make or Break Your...

November 28, 2022

Radical transformation planned for HSBC skyscraper in Canary...

July 18, 2024

Kevin O’leary joins billionaire’s bid to buy TikTok...

January 8, 2025

Car finance mis-selling: millions set to receive automatic...

March 15, 2025

Asda offers over 60s soup, a roll and...

October 7, 2022

Hunt throws lifeline to many UK pubs where...

November 22, 2023

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Trump ally stands firm against ‘big, beautiful bill’ despite pressure: ‘It’ll completely backfire’

      June 8, 2025
    • Rubio condemns assassination attempt on Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe

      June 8, 2025
    • Obama WH physician says Biden doc should have performed cognitive test

      June 8, 2025
    • Trump warns of ‘serious consequences’ if Elon Musk funds Democrats

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk jokes about reconsidering stance on Big Beautiful Bill after Schiff’s praise

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk deletes explosive posts about Trump and Epstein files

      June 7, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,152)
    • Investing (2,019)
    • Politics (15,571)
    • Stocks (3,136)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved