What are some ways active listening can create a sense of community in your organization?

Ask questions, be curious to learn. As a leader be genuinely interested in understanding team member’s perspective. Try to understand what motivates individuals.

I would always promote listening to understand. Sometimes people need to talk and they aren’t looking for you to solve their problems, they just need to say it out loud and then they can progress. This helps establish trust as you have let them lead the discussion, and often people identify solutions themselves during these discussions.

Active listening helps a leader assess the teams alignment to the vision and values. As a servant leader modelling effective communication should be a key tenant of your daily activities, The more you understand the subtleties of the situation the more opportunities you have to use a ‘light touch’ to influence your team. These interactions can be supportive without decreasing autonomy, and help team members grow day by day.

Active listening builds trust. By actively listening to those who are within our circle of influence, we understand them at a deeper level. This builds influence with that person and leadership is influence.

Taking time to listen to others frequently creates lots of opportunities for learning and growth. Take time to reflect on these discussions you have with others, and think about both the contents of the discussion and the mannerisms of the person who has communicated the information. Picking up on a persons behaviours and mannerisms can help you identify situations in the future that a team member is stress or frustrated. Being able to pickup on the early warning signs allows you to offer support before the situation becomes more complex.

Active listening serves as a mirror reflecting not only others' thoughts and feelings but also your own. When you actively listen, you absorb diverse viewpoints and responses, prompting self-reflection. You begin to question your assumptions, biases, and reactions, promoting a deeper understanding of yourself. Through this introspection, you can consciously evolve, refine your values, and align your actions with your true self, fostering profound personal growth and self-actualization.

While practicing active listening, providing feedback to the person you are listening to shows that you are present in the conversation. Often if the listener understands the topic being discussed they might give less feedback that if it was a topic where they had to ask questions. If you understand the topic being discussed ensure you have the same level of engagement as you would on a topic that is new to you. In the world of remote working over-communication is key to success

Measuring the impact of active listening requires quantifiable metrics. Integrate KPIs related to communication effectiveness into your regular performance assessments. Track metrics like resolution time for conflicts or employee engagement scores. An upward trend in these KPIs indicates that active listening is positively influencing organizational dynamics and outcomes, providing a clear measure of its impact.

Active listening not only builds understanding but also promotes inclusivity. In a diverse workplace, individuals bring varying perspectives and experiences. By actively listening, you acknowledge and respect these differences, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion. When team members feel heard and understood, they are more likely to contribute their unique insights and ideas. This inclusivity ultimately leads to a richer and more innovative work environment.