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The art of listening is an attribute that is vastly waning in our society.

The busier get, the less immune to the needs of others we become. Hearing is easy to do, but listening is a skill that is tough to come by if it’s not made a priority.

This idea applies in the business realm as well. As we work closely together, exchanging ideas and words of knowledge, listening is something that not everyone does well. It is becoming increasingly vital for bosses to get along well and take in what their employees are saying if they want to maintain a business.

There is a phrase that good employees often ” have the boss’ ear” and this can be attributed to co-workers who have qualities like their bosses, which isn’t always a good thing. Some bosses are ill tempered and have the listening skills of a gnat, while other bosses may say they are listening, yet are sending off emails and doing paperwork in the middle of a discussion.

It’s understandable that managers have a load on their plates and that this contributes to a lot of the half listening that many of them apply to their subordinates, but acquiring attentiveness and attention improves employee productivity and attitudes about their jobs. Bosses hold a lot of power in this regard, despite the old notion of whatever they say as being most important.

Listening takes much more skill than simply sitting there quietly while your counterpart goes on and on about their grievance or news. It requires a sensitivity to tone of voice, body language and reading between the lines.

Long gone are the days that one thought fits all and in order to move up in a company one must succumb to a group think train of thought. Employers must acquire emotional intelligence as well as the skill to balance their intensity or drive to help the business thrive.

On the flip side, those leaders, who are good at taking in what their employees have to say, are better prepared for more diverse and multifunctional performances that sometimes challenge their team. Becoming a great listener is never a requirement that comes with becoming a boss but is a learned skill that can be applied to the company and everyday life.

#1) Display Empathy

Putting yourself in someone elses shoes puts you on their level to gain an understanding of where the other person is coming from. A boss who displays compassion and empathy is one that will have a long-lasting relationship with his or her employees. Those employees with caring bosses are also more likely to stay at their job and perform better because they feel of value to the workplace.

Teams who have caring leaders that view them as something other than just a number will maintain a more productive environment and positive feedback.  There are some managers who say that their relationship with their co-workers end at work. These managers are more than likely to suffer from a high turnover.

That’s not to say that you need to know your employee’s life history but showing some form of care about them as a human, that’s valued outside of work is less than likely to lead to resentment.

#2) Engage with Interest

You may be boss, but this doesn’t mean you should step on people to stay ahead. It’s OK to engage with your team and ask questions. Managers do not know everything and need just as much direction as their subordinates.

Remember, it is a team for a reason, not the team, then the boss. Talk to your co-workers about their day, get to know them as people so that you understand what makes them unique and valuable. Don’t discount the friendships that can come from getting to know people, as you might need them for help one day.

#3) Don’t Judgmental & Rude

I remember working for a retail company one time with a bad boss. First, he was overbearing. He would always come in at the wrong moment, he stole employee sales, and would reprimand an employee in front of a client. This company had a high turnover because of that, but then again, he was the manager, he would always appear as correct.

Displaying a character of judgement is not an attractive trait unless it is something that gravely affects you and your life. You may or may not like how an employee dresses or does things but that doesn’t give you the right to talk about them in a manner that is demeaning and rude.

Learn from them as to why he or she does things the way they do instead of making snap judgements. You will probably find that this is the only way they know, or that no one told him how to file or stock correctly.

So many bosses think that they know everything and rather than speaking to the person up front about it, they rather play judge and remain ignorant of the situation as to avoid dealing with it.

By not allowing themselves to become approachable, they allow their opinions to cloud their judgement.

#4) Display Patience & Stop Interrupting

A leader that interrupts your train of thought does not respect your input and is more than likely going to become disengaged with the person he or she is speaking with. However, a good listener understands that in order to stay in the moment and come to a solution, they must adhere to obvious rules.

As statistics show, 85% of what we know comes from taking in what hear, this alone provides fact of how important listening is. Shutting out communication only breeds more discordance within the company relationships.

#5) Maintain Executive Presence

Every business leader should acquire executive presence to appear like they care about others whom they work with. Do you command the room when you walk in? Do you have a presence that can easily change the flow of conversation? If not, then you have more work to do.

Executive presence is someone who has a strong sense of others and is able to change the dynamics of the environment around them.  Their presence is so strong and positive, that it makes you want to become a better person. Most of the leaders that we have today, hold an executive presence in some form or fashion.

Decisiveness and coolness under pressure are just two of many qualities that it takes in mastering the personality of someone with executive presence.

Business leaders all over the world are realizing the importance of communication. As our world gets smaller in the sense of worldwide commerce, listening to the needs and wants of employees is becoming top priority.

Let’s hear from you. Do you have a job in which there is strained communication between your co-workers and your boss? Do you think it should become a priority for managers to take courses in how to engage with their staff? Tell us what you think.

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