In today's fast-paced business world, leadership often focuses on speaking skills and charisma. However, the most influential leaders master a different skill: active listening. As a leadership coach, I've observed that emotional intelligence (EQ) and listening skills are foundational to building strong workplace relationships and driving real impact.
Why Active Listening Matters in Leadership
If you want to influence someone and get them to like, respect, or spend time with you, get them talking, thinking, and solving problems while they're doing so. And really listen.
The Connection Between EQ and Listening
One of the things that drives significant unhappiness in workplaces is a feeling of not being heard. "They just don't listen to me" is something I hear people say all the time. While we're taught to read, write, and speak, few of us receive formal training in listening—yet it's a skill that can be developed and mastered.
The 5 Levels of Listening in Leadership
Understanding these distinct levels can transform your leadership approach:
Level 1: Interrupting
This is the absence of listening, where you immediately redirect conversations to your agenda. For example:
Them: "I think we should arrange a team meeting about project X and get some research in, and then…" You: "Yes, but I want to talk to you about hiring some consultants"
Level 2: Hi-jacking
Making conversations about your experiences:
Them: "I am having difficulty being heard in meetings…" You: "I find that too. Last month when I…"
Level 3: Advising
Jumping to solutions before fully understanding:
Them: "I want to win a new account…" You: "What you should do is…."
Level 4: Attentive Listening
Demonstrating genuine interest and engagement:
Them: "I'm not sure how to get this new client on board" You: "Where are you at with it right now?" / "What's the status at the moment?" / "Could you tell me the background?" / or simply… "Tell me more"
Level 5: Active Listening
The highest form of leadership listening. Here's how it looks in practice:
Them: "I'm concerned that project A isn't going so well. What can you do about it?"
You: "Would it be alright if we explored the problem further?" (asking permission)
Them: "Yes, of course"
You: "Could you tell me more about the journey of the project so far?"
Them: "When we started last year we wanted to achieve X and since then have discovered Y, now I am thinking about A + B instead."
You: "And what would be the ideal scenario?" (Get under the skin of what they really want)
Them: "Well, I'd really like X"
You: "Tell me more about that" (Keep them going)
Practical Tips for Developing Active Listening Skills
To enhance your leadership through listening:
Create Space for Thought
Allow silences
Resist the urge to interrupt
Give others time to process and respond
Practice Emotional Intelligence
Watch for non-verbal cues
Acknowledge emotions
Show genuine interest in others' perspectives
Use Strategic Questions
"Could you tell me more about that?"
"What would be the ideal scenario?"
"How would you approach this?"
The Impact of Active Listening on Leadership
When leaders master active listening:
Team members feel valued and understood
Communication becomes more effective
Problem-solving improves
Workplace relationships strengthen
Leadership influence naturally grows
Taking Action
Allow lots of time for others to speak. No interrupting. No filling the silences. Let them think and uncover all the information they have to share. The result is getting more information on the table that you can work with, no matter what the scenario.
Using Attentive and Active listening builds influence and can work in any scenario—whether it's with a peer, a client, your team, your MD, or your investor.
Think about your conversations this week. What level are you operating at?
Remember: If you feel unheard in your leadership role, consider this—are you listening to them?
About the Author: Liz Ward is a leadership coach and founder of Slick Pivot, helping leaders develop emotional intelligence and communication skills for greater workplace impact.
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