BY PAUL NYAUSARU
Being an effective l e a d e r – c o a c h requires good listening skills.
It is essential for a leader to master the art of listening as when engaging with subordinates.
This article will focus on need for the leader to focus on improving listening skills. The following attributes are critical for every leader coach if they are to make an impact.
Resolve to be a better listener: This moves the leader coach beyond awareness of the need to be a better listener to a new level, which is that of commitment. Without full commitment to listening to what is being said, behaviour change is not always possible.
So an effective leader-coach is prepared to invest time to listen to what subordinates have to say and as such, have input that can be useful in the decision s/he will make.
Tell others of the intent:
Telling subordinates of your overall intent as well as what aspects of listening he/she is committed to improving accomplishes two things.
It strengthens the subordinate’s personal commitment, and it raises others’ awareness of both the intent and the specific areas to be improved.
Others are likely to tolerate mistakes when they know something is being worked on, and they are also more likely to share their observations and feedback in a helpful, developmental way.
Create the space within which to listen: This is really about eliminating personal obstacles, distractions, or attitudes which get in the way of listening, such as physical separateness, physical or emotional fatigue, and critical attitudes or judgments.
Identifying what gets in the way may require the help of a coach or other supportive person, and is absolutely essential to the process of becoming an excellent listener.
Eliminate environmental distractions and interruptions:
This means going beyond creating space within oneself to ensuring that the immediate environment is conducive to being able to be fully present with someone else.
Extraneous noise, clutter and interruptions by others need to be eliminated to provide the best “listening space.”
This means the environment must be a conducive conversation that enables understanding between conversing parties.
Establish or confirm that rapport is present: Even if rapport has been established in the past, it cannot be assumed in the present. Rapport is situation specific, and it can be interrupted or negated during an interchange at any time.
Good listening is enhanced by rapport.
Set aside assumptions and analysis: This can be thought of as “presuming innocence” that is, making no assumptions about the speaker or the message ahead of time.
It is also important to suspend the tendency to evaluate or analyse the content of the message while the message is being delivered.
Going into an analytical mode interrupts good listening. A good leader
coach is always willing to listen with an open mind and allow for uninterrupted communication.
Monitor body language: The good listener monitors his/her own body language to ensure that it telegraphs openness, acceptance of the speaker and the message without judgment.
Body language speaks more than words can really say and paying attention to those cues will help discern what is being put across.
Listen for the whole message: This means listening for not only what is said, but also what is implied by the speaker’s message, what does the body language reveal about his or her underlying feelings, and what is the request behind the message.
Possessing such skills will enable a leader coach to get the sense of the not-so-obvious issues within the conversation.
Paul Nyausaru is an HR Practitioner and leadership coach. For all your HR interventions and leadership development training you can get in touch with him on WhatsApp/ call 0774062756 or Email
pnyausaru@gmail.com
