From Listening to Leading

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to watch Inside Out 2 with my kids. This movie, which delves into the personified emotions inside a child's mind, got me thinking about our own emotional landscapes as leaders and how we navigate them. The sequel introduces new emotions, which further sparked my interest in the topic of emotions and leadership.

We recognize these emotions in many parts of our lives—we make decisions or behave a certain way because we feel anxious, or we're boxing someone out because we're jealous. Scrolling through LinkedIn on a Monday morning, I saw a post about active listening, and in reflecting on their ideas, I started thinking about that next level of listening—strategic listening. Now, I wasn't sure if strategic listening was even a thing. A few Google searches later, it seems I'm not the only one with this idea, but all the definitions seem to vary.

There are many types of listening, more than we could cover here. But for this discussion, we're going to focus on these four key levels:

1. No Listening (Ego-Driven)

At the base level, there's no listening. These people have to say their piece, focused entirely on their narrative. Their speaking percentage is nearly 100%. Like Anxiety in Inside Out 2, they're driven by their internal chaos, unable to connect with others.

2. Listening to Respond (Narrative-Driven)

Next, we have those who try to listen but remain stuck in their own stories. They're preparing their rebuttal rather than genuinely engaging. The speaking percentage here is about 85%. This is akin to Envy, constantly comparing and contrasting but never fully present.

3. Active Listening (Understanding-Driven)

Active listening marks a shift. It's a balanced 50/50 exchange where you hear what's said and understand the nuances. This is like Joy—fully engaged, present, and responding with empathy.

4. Strategic Listening (Insight-Driven)

The pinnacle is strategic listening. Here, you hear the words, interpret underlying contexts, and respond with solutions. This is a balanced approach to your emotions—fully engaged and purposeful. You're using Joy to be active, Envy to dream about what could be, and Anxiety to anticipate challenges. Strategic listeners are the top performers, turning insights into actions.

While active and strategic listening share similarities, they serve different purposes and require distinct skills.

Active listening is about fully engaging with the speaker to understand their message. It involves:

• Empathy: Showing genuine care and understanding.
• Non-verbal cues: Using body language to show attentiveness.
• Reflecting and paraphrasing: Summarizing what the speaker has said to confirm understanding.
• Emotional intelligence: Recognizing and validating the speaker's emotions.

Active listening is crucial for building relationships. It's about being present and making the speaker feel heard and valued. However, it often focuses on the immediate conversation without considering broader implications or strategic outcomes.

Strategic listening, on the other hand, is goal-oriented and analytical. It involves:

• Critical thinking: Evaluating the information shared to discern key points and underlying messages.
• Goal-oriented focus: Keeping the end objective in mind, such as solving a problem or making a decision.
• Selective attention: Focusing on the most relevant parts of the conversation that align with your goals.
• Probing questions: Asking targeted questions to uncover deeper insights and implications.

Strategic listening goes beyond understanding. It's about interpreting and using the information to drive actions and decisions. This type of listening is essential for leaders who need to navigate complex situations and make informed decisions that align with their strategic goals.

As leaders, it's important to cultivate both active and strategic listening skills. Here's how you can apply them effectively in your leadership roles, empowering you to create a more productive and fulfilling work environment:

1. Recognize the Context

Understand when to use active listening to build trust and when to shift to strategic listening to drive outcomes.

2. Balance Empathy and Analysis

Combine the empathy of active listening with the analytical approach of strategic listening to create a well-rounded communication style.

3. Train Your Team

Encourage your team to develop both listening skills through training and practice. Role-playing exercises can help them understand the differences and applications of each.

4. Lead by Example

Demonstrate both types of listening in your interactions. Show your team the value of being fully present and strategically focused. By leading by example, you can instill a sense of responsibility and accountability in your team members.

Mastering active and strategic listening can create more fulfilling and productive work environments. Inside Out 2 reminds us that our emotions, like our listening habits, serve important purposes. By honing these skills, we can lead with empathy, insight, and strategic intent, helping our teams not just see the vision but buy-in and strive towards it together.