How to Develop Listening Skills
One of my most respected coaching clients is the CEO of a successful company. He is an accomplished executive with great smarts, work ethic, and excellent communication skills. What most people don’t know about him is that a few years ago, he decided he wanted to become a world-class listener.
He focused on understanding others to gain wisdom, loyalty, and respect from his team and customers.
Remember: Effective listening requires more than hearing words being transmitted, it demands that you find meaning and understanding in what is being said.
How to Develop World-Class Listening Skills:
- Listen first by asking quality questions
- Listen with an intent to understand, not respond
- Listen for the message behind the message
- Listen for both content, emotions, and feelings
- Listen with your eyes and your hearing will improve
- Listen with empathy and acceptance
- Listen for areas where they lack confidence
- Listen and affirm them
- Listen with extraordinary care and respect
- Listen the way you would like to be listened to
Leaders, as you learn to put yourself in the other persons place, your ability to understand will increase.
I have a quote I have in my office that I read daily, “Nobody even listened himself out of a sale.” -Gerhard Gschwandtner
Here’s to building better listening skills!
Steve
As a master storyteller, Steve has unparalleled ability to communicate dynamic business and leadership truths through stories, anecdotes and humor. Harness the power of the “number one” predictor of professional success, impact, leadership, high performance and sustainable relationships in business and life. Steve’s highest rated keynote presentation.
To book Steve today, contact Michelle Joyce!
(For information on keynote presentations, team workshops, and one on one coaching.)
“The purpose of Leadership Quest is to help professionals develop their personal leadership, vision and emotional intelligence. Everyday I strive to help leaders and teams achieve their desired goals in sales productivity, leadership, time maximization, and life-balance. ”
About the Author
Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle-based leadership development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly-sought-after speaker who has delivered more than 2,500 presentations to a list of clients including Microsoft, Starbucks, the Seattle Seahawks, Pandora Radio, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, the Ritz Carlton group, and the U.S. Social Security Administration. He recently was voted #1 by the readership of Huffington Post as the Most Inspirational Leader on Social Media.
A published author on leadership and emotional intelligence, Steve resides near Seattle with his wife Julie where they enjoy time with their three adult children and six grandchildren.
