Communication is a boss/leader’s superpower. It enhances their credibility, influence, and ability to achieve intended results.
Yet, many of you do a poor job of listening for various reasons.
Your excuses or reasons could include:
• “I don’t have time.”
• “I’ve heard this from others or the same person several times.”
• “I don’t care.”
• “If they would just do their job and stop making it more complicated than it is, we wouldn’t keep having these conversations.
• “I expect others to do their work and not make my job more difficult.”
While seeing these excuses in black and white can be off-putting, all bosses/leaders experience these feelings — some more often than others. But as a boss/leader, you don’t have the luxury of not listening! Failing to listen can and will come back to haunt you.
Remember, when employees feel heard, it increases their loyalty and trust in you as their boss/leader!
Let’s Dig Deeper into Why Employees Do Not Feel Heard
Instead of making needed changes, you make excuses. This could have been a great opportunity to build on a new idea by listening to the employee sharing the idea! Sometimes, all it takes is listening and not doing anything. The solution is asking open-ended questions and listening!
Recommendation: Ask them to create a written plan. Now, they feel heard. Review the plan! Offer suggestions for improvement. Then, do what is necessary to make the needed changes. PS: Don’t forget to acknowledge their efforts along the way!
You turn any problem or challenge around and blame the employee. “You need to stay focused on your own job.” (Or some variation of this.) Employees don’t feel heard and valued because you are defensive and take problems personally.
Recommendation: When an employee points out an issue, investigate. While it may not be a big problem, there is a good chance it will become one. What can you do to be proactive? This encourages employees to let you know when things are amiss, saving time, money, and your career.
You’ve not dealt with a recent failure, mistake, or personal setback. Grief is sneaky. It can shade your ability to listen to what an employee (boss or board) is really saying. You may overreact due to unaddressed feelings or denial; the employee feels you aren’t listening and overreacting to what they are saying.
Recommendation: Remember, your feelings come from within you; some conversations may trigger negative responses due to unresolved issues. Talk with your coach about how to handle these challenges. Talk with a grief counselor/therapist now to work through the emotions that will inevitably pop up!
©Jeannette Seibly 2024 All Rights Reserved
Jeannette Seibly is a Talent Advisor/Leadership Results Coach with over 32 years of practical experience guiding leaders and bosses to improve their hiring, coaching, and managing practices and produce amazing results! And yes, achieving business success always starts with having the right people in the right jobs! She has been an Authorized PXT Select® Partner for over 33 years. Contact Jeannette to learn more about these state-of-the-art job-fit assessment tools or how to coach and manage your people to achieve the intended results.
Note from Jeannette: Are you a good listener? Many bosses/leaders would say, “It depends.” It’s important to listen – especially when you don’t want to do so. It will save time, money, and your career! Let’s talk now and address your communication concerns—before it’s too late. Contact me!
Now is the time to get into focused action! Are there days you dread doing what is needed to manage your people, projects, and team’s financial performance? You’re not alone! Everyone has those days! But continuing to hide behind excuses only hurts you and your future promotability. I have extensive experience and wisdom guiding bosses and leaders to hire, coach, and manage their teams successfully – this includes getting you out of the way and working with and through people effectively to achieve the results required. Contact me to learn more about my in-depth, one-on-one, customized coaching programs.