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Listening Is a Skill
Leadership / Principles · Updated Apr 2026
Most people listen to respond. Leaders must listen to understand.
Why Listening Is Hard
- Your brain is faster than speech, so it wanders.
- You're already forming your reply before they finish.
- You filter what you hear through your own assumptions.
- Seniority creates a bubble - people tell you what you want to hear.
Active Listening
- Be present. Close your laptop. Put down your phone.
- Don't interrupt. Let them finish.
- Reflect back. "So what I'm hearing is..."
- Ask follow-up questions. "What do you mean by...?"
- Sit with silence. Don't rush to fill it.
Why It Matters for Leaders
- People who feel heard feel valued.
- You can't make good decisions with bad information. Listening is how you get good information.
- The quietest person in the room often has the best insight.
The Rule
In any conversation, aim to listen more than you speak. As a leader, you probably already know what you think. Your job is to learn what they think.
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