Better Listening - What It Actually Means

The Manager Track

Can you recall that last conversation you had with someone when you noticed they weren't fully present with you and giving you their fullest attention? Maybe they checked their phones every so often, maybe they were watching people walking by, or they were more interested telling you about their own experiences rather than trying to really hear and understand what you were trying to communicate.

How did you feel in that conversation? Chances are high that it seemed high-level, not very meaningful, or even a waste of time.

Listening well is a skill most of us have to learn as an adult and while it sounds easy enough, for many of us it is actually hard to do and filled with unconscious pitfalls.

Being a better listener can lead to significant positive outcomes for you, your team, and your organization. Not only does it demonstrate empathy and help to build trust but it also plays an important role in understanding various perspectives which can lead to making better, more informed decisions.

In this episode, Ramona will fill you in on the most common barriers to active listening, some of which you've probably not thought of before. She will also provide practical advice that will help you navigate challenging situations by fully engaging with the people involved and getting to the root cause of the issues at hand.

Check it out here.

— RESOURCES MENTIONED —

• Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Access the course and resources here: ramonashaw.com/11
• Have a question or topic you'd like Ramona to address on a future episode? Fill out this form to submit it for her review: https://ramonashaw.com/ama

— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —

• Episode 44: How to Be More Focused and Get Less Distracted
• Episode 52: 5 Strategies to Be More Present as a Leader
• Episode 94: The Power of Questions

— WHAT’S NEXT? —

Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP

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