Listening

It's not about getting a "one-up" on the other speaker

Listening well adds to your leadership competence.

Don’t tune the person out in order to prep what you will say next. Listen to receive the information properly. If you need think time to prep your response, you can always nod sagely and make an erudite “hmmm…” sound to buy a few seconds after they are done. Try writing a key word on a notepad while not looking down—that keyword can remind you of what you wanted to remember to say.

Listening focus takes practice—work to extend the amount of time you can give the other person your sustained attention. It’s amazing what you can learn from them!

(image source: https://www.instagram.com/hjluks1/p/C6LrCC-rrfL/)