A great leader utilises various leadership skills to better understand the people they work with. They understand the importance of knowing their people, in order to help them grow as a team. In order to do this effectively, there’s one important skill they need to master – listening objectively.

Effective listening is the key to all good relationships, regardless of whether they’re in a work or personal environment. To be a good listener, you need to balance empathic and objective listening skills, as both serve two distinctly different functions.

Empathic listening is an important part of bonding

When we’re listening to someone we’re close to, we tend to empathise more with them. This is where we feel what they’re feeling and see the world as they see it. We need empathy to relate to another person and to understand their meaning – it helps build friendships and connections.

However, empathic listening isn’t always a great solution when someone is facing a dilemma or looking for a solution. If they’re saying the whole world doesn’t understand them or a problem just isn’t solvable, empathising with them will make them feel understood, but it will also only give their misery company!

Objective listening enables you to detach and assess

If we want to help them move forward and find a resolution to their dilemma or problem, we have to be able to take a look past the emotions and assumptions, and look at the facts. Only then, can we see potential solutions and different perspectives.

This is why objective listening is an important tool in our leadership skills arsenal. It enables us to take emotion out of the equation and rely purely on the facts. We’re looking to fully listen and understand the situation, before we evaluate.

How to enhance your leadership skills, by listening objectively

Listening objectively isn’t something we naturally do – it takes time to master it. We’re used to making snap judgement calls and filtering conversations through our own values and beliefs. However, as a leader, you need to master objective listening – so here’s a handy reminder:

• Encourage openness.
• Let them tell you how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking.
• Focus on what they’re saying.
• Empathise with them and recognise their feelings.
• Don’t interrupt – let them finish what they’re saying.
• Keep an open mind.
• Don’t make assumptions.
• Ask questions to clarify.
• Look to fully understand – not judge.
• Give positive feedback and evaluation.

Effective listening is the key to all good relationships, regardless of whether they’re in a work or personal environment. By using the above tips, a good leader will learn how to use both empathic and objective listening skills, to improve their leadership skills and help grow a more effective, productive and communicative team.

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