Are you a good listener? We all like to think we are, but it's important to examine ourselves and make sure we understand what it means to truly be a good listener. You might be surprised how much more you are able to understand within a conversation.

A lot of times, we listen just enough to decide how to respond. This is often what I hear leaders do throughout their day in their one-on-one and team meetings. So much is missed in that type of interaction.

As a leader, it is important to listen so that you can truly understand the heart of the matter being discussed. As I mention in my book, "Confidence, Clarity, & Ease: A Guide for Emerging Leaders to Thrive;" you must take time to pause, silence the conversations in your mind, and get curious.

Listening in this way will help you relate to people, communicate with them, and ultimately lead them.

3 Levels of Listening:

In my book, I discuss the three levels of listening.

Listening for self: This type of listening focuses on how information concerns you. It brings the focus back on you. Have you ever been in conversations, where the focus always seems to go on the other person regardless of what you are saying? And yet, if I am in a doctor's office, I will listen to see how whatever is being shared relates to me.

Listening for information: This type of listening focuses on what is being said. An example of this is when you're in a class and working to learn about something. Or you might be involved in a conflict, and this second level of listening has you respond so you can get your point of view across. This type of listening also occurs when managers hear their direct reports asking for help. They might find themselves listening just enough to fix their problems.

Listening for meaning: This type of listening goes beyond just the words someone is saying. It means that you notice the body language, the values, and you empathize with what the person is saying. This is a selfless type of listening where you get to know someone's heart and why they feel the way that they do. You can often hear what is most important to that individual. As leaders, this can help you to understand how to delegate tasks or even what kinds of projects someone might want to do. It can help you to support your team through difficult conversations, through change of management and transitions, and getting results.

All three levels of listening are valuable. As leaders, it is important to know what is most useful depending on the situation you find yourself in.

What is the impact to you when you are not truly listening?

What is the impact on your team when you are not truly listening?

What practices do you need to put into place so that you are taking time to hear the heart of the matter?

There are so many ways listening effectively will help you in life. Ultimately, it will give you an entirely new level of communication and problem-solving skills. You will look at life and others around you in a different way.

Inspiring You To Thrive,

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FOR PROFESSIONAL COACHES: Training Certification

- Are you a professional coach, trainer or work in the Human Resources department?

- This valuable resource teaches on Patrick Lencioni's work around the 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team.

- If you are interested in becoming certified to facilitate this training, you can email me at sheeba@coachsheeba.com to learn more.

Leadership Spotlight: Leaders in STEM Organization

A national STEM initiative, called STEM Careers Coalition is making history and touching the lives of thousands of students. Its goal is to connect students to a "curated collection of dynamic careers content celebrating Black leaders in STEM during Black History Month and beyond."

"The partners of the STEM Careers Coalition share a common goal of empowering educators to teach STEM effectively in the classroom with an intentional focus on racial and gender equity."

The leaders in this coalition have a goal of preparing 10 million students for the workforce by 2025. They do this by providing access to experiences and content that teaches them the foundation of STEM and develops skills they need for their careers and futures. The cost is completely free for the students.

Sheeba Varghese is a strategic partner for your talent development solutions and the author of Confidence, Clarity & Ease: A Guide For Emerging Leaders To Thrive. Her passion is to inspire and equip men and women to lead with excellence and authenticity within the spheres of influences that they are called to impact in life. The spheres may be in a home, on a team, in a classroom, among partners in a firm, or within management, to name a few.

Senior Leaders and professionals who want to develop stronger leadership skills, have an impact and move forward in their careers

Teams who want to work cohesively within their organizations

Coaches who want to renew or apply for certification with ICF

If you want to improve your leadership skills, transition from managing to leading, ensure your team is amazingly successful, increase your own self-awareness and progress your career, or you aspire to be a masterful coach for your clients, then Sheeba would love to support you. She works with clients globally, both face-to-face, phone or by Zoom.

In her time apart from clients, Sheeba enjoys time with her husband, Santosh, and their 2 sons, Sam and Steven. She loves great movies, a good book, decorating and dining at the wonderful restaurants in the Bay Area.

Listening at a Deeper Level

Humor Break...

FOR PROFESSIONAL COACHES: Training Certification

Leadership Spotlight: Leaders in STEM Organization