Amp up your listening with these 3 simple hacks
You know that feeling when someone has truly listened to you? Like really listened. Listened with their ears. Their voice. Their eyes. Their smile. Even their body.
Most people want to be heard and understood, but not everyone has the skills to be a good listener.
It turns out that while most of us believe we’re good listeners, truly mastering the skill isn’t something that’s often taught or practiced.
Listening: The overlooked leadership superpower
When I formally studied communication over 20 years ago, the focus was on strategy, messaging, and presenting ideas clearly and persuasively. Listening was seen as important, but rarely taught. It was assumed to be instinctive.
Turns out this isn’t unique to my experience; 78% of accredited undergraduate business schools in the U.S. highlight presenting as a key learning goal, yet only 11% emphasise listening[1].
But great communication doesn’t start with speaking. It starts with how we listen. And listening well isn’t instinctive. It’s a skill. And one that drives real results.
The Business Impact of Great Listening
In a world full of noise and distraction, the leaders who truly listen are the ones people trust, follow, and remember.
Hybrid work makes listening harder because we miss important nonverbal cues. On top of that, digital distractions make it even tougher to stay focused.
That’s why sharpening your listening skills is so important.
Leaders who listen well don’t just communicate better. They connect deeply with their teams, understand what really matters, and drive meaningful results like higher engagement, profitability, and productivity.
A Harvard study found that leaders who prioritise listening are 27% more likely to be seen as effective communicators and are more successful in leading change, because they truly understand what matters to their people.[2] When employees feel genuinely heard, engagement improves, with organisations seeing 21% higher profitability and 17% greater productivity[3].
Beyond building trust and openness, this kind of listening improves decision-making, reduces costly misunderstandings, strengthens collaboration, and drives better outcomes for the entire business.
3 listening habits every leader should build
1. Switch to Listening Mode
Before you begin a conversation, especially one that matters, take a moment to switch to listening mode. Put away your phone, close your laptop, and remove distractions so you can be fully present and pay attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues.
Distractions aren’t just external. Notice any internal judgments or assumptions, and set them aside, so you don’t’ bring your own biases or prejudices to the conversation.
2. Replace judgment with curiosity
Edgar Schein’s idea of Humble Inquiry[4] flips the script on leadership communication. It’s not about giving answers or fixing problems. It’s about asking thoughtful, open-ended questions that show genuine curiosity.
This might sound like “Can you walk me through what led to that decision?” instead of “Why didn’t you do it this way?”. Or instead of “Why didn’t you meet the deadline?”, try “What obstacles came up that affected the timeline?”.
These kinds of questions show you’re listening to understand, not to judge.
That mindset can transform any conversation into an opportunity for learning, innovation, and building trust.
And with Edelman’s Trust Barometer[5] showing that employees who trust their leaders are more engaged, loyal, and productive, asking these questions unlocks significant value for both people and business.
3. Resist the urge to react
It’s human nature to want to be right.
When we hear something we disagree with, we’ve got about 10 seconds, or three sentences before our brain hits the rebuttal button. [6]
But real listening means holding back on that instinct and pausing.
Pausing shows you respect what they’re saying. It makes it easier for them to open up, and encourages them to keep talking and finish their thought.
Thinking is messy.
Giving people the time to clarify their thinking is a generous act.
It’s an act that will shape how much the speaker shares and how deeply they will go.
Listening – the secret to leading well
Listening is not just a soft skill or a communication tool. It’s a form of leadership. It is a way of building or restoring trust. It helps people feel seen and heard.
Great leaders don’t just speak well; they listen extraordinarily well.
For too long, we’ve celebrated speaking more than listening. But in leadership, and in life, it’s listening that builds trust, strengthens connection, and creates lasting impact.
In a world where attention is currency, truly listening to someone is one of the greatest gifts we can give.
