The Most Important Skill to Hone in 2017

Arguably one of the most underutilized skills in leadership is listening. Leaders are groomed to know all the answers and be really confident, which is almost opposite of listening. And listening skills are rarely taught in high school, college, or management schools! No wonder it's underutilized!

It's obvious that leaders need to listen to obtain information. But even more importantly, listening creates trust with people. When you feel listened to, it makes you feel like that person really cares.

And just ask yourself, when you trust someone how loyal are you to that person? How motivated are you to help that person? Good listening skills create great relationships (not just on the job - this stuff works great at home too)!

The good news is, it really only takes a little practice if you want to hone your listening skills. 

Watch my short video to find out why leaders should be good listeners, learn how good listening can facilitate more effective leadership, and discover why listening is the most important skill for leaders to hone in 2017

Share your thoughts in the comments below. I'd love to know how you engage in empathetic listening!

Cheers,

Do you have a workplace question? Send to Laurie and it might be included in a future blog!​