How we listen to other people not only in the work environment has a direct impact on our success or failure.
What is active listening?
Active listening means that when you try to communicate with another person, stop trying to multitask. Concentrate fully on what the other person is saying rather than on the wording of what you want to say yourself.
The goal is to understand, define and visualize the problem you are solving with the other person. Evaluate the available options, anticipate likely outcomes (success and failure) and make appropriate decisions. This is the use of a decision-making process that can be expressed on the basis of the Boyd loop. Air Force Colonel John Boyd developed the human (group) decision making process in the 1980s. This is a model known under the name “OODA LOOP” and is used not only in the military, but also in other areas.
The first O stands for OBSERVE. This is the time when we perceive what is actually happening. It is followed by another O – ORIENT. D stands for DECIDE. This stage involves the choice of response to the given situation. And finally A, standing for ACT. At this stage, the decision is made.
From the point of view of changing goals (conditions and states), we easily get into a situation where, before we reach a decision (D), a new stimulus appears, forcing us to repeatedly observe (O1) and re-orient ourselves (O2). Instead of the decision-making process going through the entire OODA loop, we are “stuck” in the first half and are forced to move only between O1 and O2.
In this case, the other party has an advantage, can manipulate us and make it impossible for you to accept an adequate decision. From the point of view of decision-making, it is of course the opposite for us.
”Listening to the words” someone says to you is only one part of active listening. You also need to pay attention to non-verbal cues (e.g. facial expressions, body posture, etc.). These cues tell what someone is really feeling, thinking or needing and will help you get a better idea of the other person’s overall thinking and come up with a more thoughtful and rational response.
”Asking questions” is another part of active listening. It shows the other person that you are genuinely interested in the common topic so the conversation continues and develops. Asking questions also offers insight into how to get clarification on other details of the topic being discussed.
If both parties actively listen, they will reach a common goal much more easily. On the contrary, in a normal conversation you will constantly be running between the roles of listener and speaker. When you are a speaker, you need to take ownership of your communication and find ways to make your point if the listener does not understand you.
Why is active listening important?
No matter what industry or position you work in, rely on the interpersonal relationships you build with your team, stakeholders, customers, and more. Without active listening, relationships will be more difficult to develop. Lack of understanding makes it difficult to overcome problems, brainstorm as a team, or propose innovative solutions. All of these things can lead to problems, irritation, low morale, and poor productivity.
Thanks to active listening, you promote the awareness and engagement of people who know what to do and why they do it. They work together harmoniously towards common goals and move organizations in the right direction. At the same time, they feel more respected. High productivity is a sign that there really is active mutual listening.
Balancing professionalism and fun
Active listening is obviously serious business because it can have a dramatic effect on results. It does not mean you have to be on your toes all the time. It is perfectly normal to include jokes in a conversation with the other person or laugh together and be yourself, it is perfectly fine and natural. The key is to keep everything relevant and avoid immersion. With the right balance of fun and professionalism, you can create a relaxed atmosphere where people feel safe enough to share concerns, be creative and rely on their skills. This is what many leaders should consider the Holy Grail. To encourage people to be truly diverse, inclusive and mutually supportive at all levels.
Genuine interest facilitates active listening
The best example of active listening is trying to be genuinely interested in what the other person is saying. Interest can stem from a basic respect for the other person’s worth as a human being and contributor. The more you genuinely care about the other person, the more you connect to a common purpose and the less you have to “pretend” and the more naturally you can pay attention and properly analyse the information you receive.
Communication is an integral part of everything we do at work and outside of it. To communicate successfully, we need to“actively listen”. Active listening makes the difference between success and failure, so it is important to see active listening as a natural part of our lives.
If we really realize that we are actively listening and encourage our employees, colleagues, customers to do the same, we will soon find that work from start to finish runs more smoothly than ever before.
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