Active Listening for Better Leadership Communication

Course details

Even as new technologies have prompted radical changes in the world of work, basic interpersonal communication skills remain as critical as ever. In this course, join Heather Younger—the two-time best-selling author of The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty and The Art of Caring Leadership—as she details what active listening is, why it's a critical skill for leaders, and how to optimize communication so your employees feel heard, valued, and understood.

Heather shares her five-step framework for active listening and explains how to discern passive listening from active listening, detect and respond to common nonverbal cues, and demonstrate curiosity and empathy when actively listening. She also shares specific tactics to help you become more present, expand your decision-making circle, and properly communicate the connection between team feedback and the actions you take based on that feedback. Tune in to take the first steps towards becoming a better listener and leader.

Concepts

Introduction

Active listening - The key leadership skill

Understanding Active Listening

A framework for active listening
The difference between passive and active listening
Shifting from passive to active listening
Detecting nonverbal signals while active listening

Key Attributes of Active Listening

Demonstrate curiosity when actively listening
Embrace empathy when actively listening
Make presence a priority when actively listening

The Power of Reflection in Active Listening

How to pause and reflect
Override unconscious bias
Listen beyond your inner circle

The Role of Action in Active Listening

Defining the three types of actions to take after active listening
The role of compassionate action
Taking action after receiving feedback
The pitfalls of taking action

Communicating Action

Why communicating action is critical to active listening
Following up and closing the loop

Conclusion

Active listening and human connection