The importance of active listening in the workplace

About the author

Lucy Harvey

Lucy Harvey, COO at Stribe, has 11+ years’ experience in purpose-driven leadership roles across health, wellbeing, internal communications, employee engagement, and marketing. She is passionate about creating workplaces where people are happy, fulfilled, and feel comfortable and safe to talk.

According to active listening trends in 2023 – active listening at work can reduce misunderstandings by 40% and can increase employee satisfaction rates by up to 16%. These are massive numbers when you consider impact on collaboration and productivity – and all that it takes that we truly listen to one another.

Active listening is a skill that takes practice and genuine effort to develop. But with the right techniques and tips, you will significantly improve your active listening skills in the workplace.

What is active listening?

Active listening is a communication skill that involves undivided attention and understanding of the speaker’s message. It is more than simply hearing words, and involves actively engaging with the speaker, both verbally and non-verbally to gain perspective. Active listening requires being present, respectful, and empathetic to find mutual understanding.

Why is active listening important? 

Fundamentally, active listening is important because it enhances effective communication by ensuring that individuals’ thoughts, feelings, opinions, and ideas are understood accurately and completely. This reduces misunderstandings and helps build strong working relationships.

Active listening is also a basic sign of respect and shows that you value your colleagues’ perspectives and ideas. Genuine listening encourages a positive and inclusive work environment where everyone feels heard and acknowledged. Additionally, active listening allows for better problem-solving and decision-making by gathering all relevant information and considering multiple viewpoints – ultimately improving teamwork and efficiency.

How to improve your active listening skills

The first step to becoming a better active listener is all about curiosity. It’s about being genuinely interested in other people’s feelings and experiences. When you approach conversations with a sense of curiosity, it opens up a whole new world of understanding. You start asking questions, seeking to learn more, and really diving into the other person’s perspective.

Once you’ve let your curiosity guide you – practice will make perfect! The more you engage in active listening and let your curiosity shine, the better you’ll become at connecting with your colleagues and making them feel heard.

11 active listening techniques and tips

• Eye contact is everything
  Make an effort to maintain eye contact with your colleague. It shows that you are attentive and interested in what they have to say.

• Interrupting is a huge no go
  Let your colleague finish their thoughts before responding or interjecting. Interrupting can disrupt their flow and make them feel frustrated.

• Empathy and understanding
  Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand their perspective and emotions – it will go a long way in making a more meaningful connection.

• Use non-verbal cues
  Nodding, smiling, and using appropriate facial expressions can signal to your teammate that you are engaged and actively listening.

• Zero judgements
  Active listening involves keeping an open mind and being receptive to different perspectives. Let your colleague know that when they speak to you it’s a safe space without judgement.

• Let go of distractions
  Give your full attention to the speaker and avoid multitasking. Focus on the present moment let go of thoughts that may hinder your ability to genuinely listen.

• Open-ended questions
  Encourage your colleague to elaborate on their ideas by asking open-ended questions that require more than a simple “yes” or “no” response.

• Practice patience
  Allow them to express their thoughts without rushing them. Be patient and give them the time and space to articulate their ideas fully.

• Be aware of your body language
  Maintain an open and receptive posture – sit up straight and face them directly. Avoid crossing your arms or anything that could be interpreted as defensive body language.

• Recap the conversation
  Without interrupting them, occasionally summarise your colleague’s main points to ensure you are understanding them correctly. This helps reinforce the information you are receiving and shows that you are actively engaged in the conversation.

• Provide feedback
  Offer constructive feedback or thoughts on the speaker’s ideas when appropriate. This demonstrates your engagement and shows that you have been actively listening.

Encourage active listening in the workplace with employee pulse surveys

By utilising pulse surveys strategically, you can gather valuable feedback, identify areas for improvement, and take targeted actions to encourage active listening in the workplace. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started.

• Gather anonymous feedback
  Pulse surveys provide a platform for employees to share their thoughts and opinions anonymously. This encourages honest and open feedback, as employees feel more comfortable expressing their views without fear of repercussions.

• Ask targeted questions
  Craft your survey questions to specifically focus on active listening and communication within your organisation. For example, ask about employees’ perceptions of listening skills within their teams or ask for suggestions to improve communication channels.

• Assess engagement levels
  Include questions in your pulse surveys that measure employee engagement and satisfaction. Active listening is closely tied to employee engagement, as it shows that their voices are heard and valued. Analysing engagement levels can provide insights into how well active listening practices are being implemented.

• Monitor trends over time
  Conduct regular pulse surveys to track changes and trends in employee feedback. By analysing the data over time, you will identify patterns and take proactive measures to address any gaps in active listening and communication.

• Communicate survey results
  Share survey results with employees and communicate the actions being taken as a result of their feedback. This proves to them that their opinions have been heard and valued.

• Create action plans
  It’s crucial to act upon the feedback received from pulse surveys. For instance, if employees express concerns about a lack of active listening from supervisors, you can organise training programs or workshops on active listening skills for managers.

• Provide training
  Offer resources and training programs on active listening to employees and managers. These can include workshops, webinars, or online modules that educate individuals on the importance of active listening and provide practical strategies.

• Reward active listening behaviours
  Acknowledge and reward individuals or teams that show active listening in their interactions. This can be done through recognition initiatives or highlighting success stories in internal communications.

• Evaluate the impact
  Continuously evaluate the impact of pulse surveys and active listening initiatives. Monitor changes in employee satisfaction, engagement, and communication to assess the effectiveness of the strategies you’ve implemented – we guarantee you’ll be impressed by the results!

At Stribe we make teams the happiest they can be. Book a chat to see how we can improve your employee engagement.

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