Leading is less about talking and more about listening.
Give me 2 minutes, and I'll teach you how to listen:
1/ Engage to understand
↳Eye contact shows you're right there with them. ↳Small nods and "uh-huh" demonstrate engagement. ↳When your mind drifts, bring it back to listening.
2/ Connect heart-to-heart
↳Watch their body language and tone to get their feelings. ↳Sharing your feelings makes a safe space. ↳Avoid judging or jumping into giving advice.
3/ Remove distractions, they are all that matters
↳Distance yourself from phones and devices and put them on silence. ↳Choose a quiet spot. ↳Stay in the now, gently ignore wandering thoughts.
4/ Embrace quiet, silence holds the key to understanding
↳Resist the urge to interrupt silence. ↳Reflect during quiet times. ↳Patience lets them share at their pace.
5/ Lean on curiosity, be eager to learn their story
↳Every chat is a chance to discover new things. ↳Ask to uncover their true thoughts and feelings. ↳Prompt more details with "What happened next?"
6/ Reflect their reality, show you get them inside and out
↳Summarize their points in your own words. ↳Recognize their feelings with empathy. ↳Ask to clarify vs. assuming.
PS: When you listen, it's about showing you care and hear them, not that you agree with everything they are saying.
PPS: Listen with the same passion with which you want to be heard.
