Here's how you can enhance feedback by practicing active listening.

To help me focus on what the other person is saying, I often need to adjust my environment accordingly. For instance, I need to put my phone in my pocket, or even face down on my desk. I need to turn away from my screen and look the other person in the face. I also find that I need to practice active listening...truly practice it in order to make it natural. At first, it can come off a little canned, but I've always found it to be appreciated. The more I practice it, the more natural and appreciated it becomes.

TOP TOOL SHARE: Reflect on what you heard before anything else. Before asking, correcting, or inserting your thoughts. Reflection is my #1 leadership tool for showing you have a basic understanding of what they just said. When actively listening to someone you say "What I heard you say is..." and reflect on what you heard them say so they can correct a misunderstanding or agree that you heard them. This is powerful for many reasons, here are a few of those reasons: 1 - when you repeat someone else's words from your mouth, it simply hits different 2 - when they hear how they are being understood it creates transparency 3 - if they say something that triggers you, you have time to breathe and process before proceeding.

Active listening requires us to not only be present, but to listen without judgement or prejudice. We are often conditioned to listen to respond and true listening requires us to listen to understand. This is the only way you can provide value or feedback (if requested) or make the speaker comfortable in knowing that you respect and acknowledge what they are saying. Your body language can also let them know that they have your focus and attention on the conversation. Eye contact and expressions during breaks in sentences lets them know you are following along. All these things are essential to setting the right foundation of active listening.

Some ways for getting started: - Begin by ensuring that your body language is open and inviting, making the other person feel comfortable and valued. - Encourage honest dialogue by listening without interrupting and acknowledging their feelings and perspectives. - Ask clarifying questions to show genuine interest and understanding, and respond with empathy and respect. By fostering this sense of safety, you encourage open communication, making feedback more meaningful and constructive for both parties.

Creating a safe space is the only way for effective communication. It creates an environment where the speaker feels like they: - Are Heard - Are Understood - Are paying attention - Open up and express themselves - Can trust you with the conversation This will no doubt make the speaker feel safe, valued and respected.

It is imperative for me to understand the difference between asking questions and questioning. Asking questions is born out of curiosity. Questioning is born out of assumptions. Asking questions is about understanding the other person. Questioning is about them understanding me. Asking questions invites them to open up. Questioning points the finger and leads to them shutting down. The key to asking good questions is for me to be genuinely interested in the answers.

Always ask questions. They make sure that you: - Get all the details - Understand the situation - Identify how the speaker feels - Are clear on the nest possible outcome The right questions will help you be the most effective in providing solutions or feedback that is valuable to the speaker.

Here are two techniques to consider: - After listening to the feedback, summarize or paraphrase what you’ve heard to confirm your understanding and show that you value their input. For example, you might say, "What I’m hearing is that you feel we could improve our communication on project updates." This not only clarifies the feedback but also opens the door for further discussion. - Ask follow-up questions to delve deeper and show genuine interest. By practicing these two techniques, you foster a more open, trusting, and productive dialogue, which leads to more effective and actionable feedback.

After receiving feedback, here are a few things for following up: - Take time to reflect on what was discussed and identify actionable steps. - Reach out to the person who provided the feedback to share your thoughts and outline the actions you plan to take. This follow-up shows that you value their input and are committed to improvement. - Check in periodically to update them on your progress and seek further advice.

Some ways to get started: -Practice giving your undivided attention by minimizing distractions and maintaining eye contact. - Show that you’re listening by nodding and using verbal affirmations like “I see” or “That makes sense.” - Reflect back what you’ve heard to confirm understanding, and ask clarifying questions if needed.

La escucha activa es uno de los skills más importantes que todo líder debe desarrollar con sus equipos de trabajo. Escuchando activamente es cómo podemos conocer a nuestros colaboradores, entender qué les motiva, qué les inspira a ir a trabajar día a día, qué no les gusta, etc. Es decir, nos permite conocer a nuestra gente cómo personas y no sólo como profesionales. Cuando utilizamos este skill de manera genuina y contante con nuestra gente, nos vamos a dar cuenta cómo empezamos a generar esa conexión emocional que es tan necesaria en cualquier relación líder-colaborador. #liderazgo #leadership

Active listening is more than just hearing what's being said - it's about fully engaging in the conversation, processing the information, and responding thoughtfully. It's a skill that can lead to better decision-making, more effective feedback, and actionable improvement strategies. By actively listening, we're not just passively absorbing information, but we're learning, understanding, and contributing to the conversation. This leads to more informed decisions and more effective feedback. Moreover, active listening fosters a culture of respect and understanding, making everyone feel valued and heard. It's a tool that every professional should have in their arsenal, and its impact can be profound.