The Power of Leadership Listening

In today’s fast-paced business environment, leadership is more than just making decisions and guiding teams—it’s about building connections, understanding needs, and fostering a culture of trust. A crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of effective leadership is the art of listening.

According to a study by Emtrain, 1 in 10 employees say they do not trust that their leaders would listen if they made a complaint. Worse yet, 31% of employees said their leaders lack empathy and don’t show interest in their direct reports.

On the other hand, leaders who master the skill of listening can unlock higher levels of engagement, innovation, and success within their organizations. But why exactly is leadership listening so essential, and how can leaders improve this critical skill?

Why Leaders Need to Be Great Listeners

Leadership is not a one-way street; it’s a dialogue. Great leaders understand that listening is just as important as speaking. According to a survey of 3,000 workers in the UK, only one-quarter of employees trust their workplace’s leadership, which is a concerning figure considering the positive correlation between trust, productivity, and staff retention.

According to research from The Workforce Institute, 86% of employees feel they are not heard “fairly or equally,” and 63% believe their voice has been ignored by their employer or manager.

This is a concerning statistic, especially if you consider how much leaders can gain from actively listening to their employees.

1. Building trust and driving engagement

Employees who feel heard are more likely to trust their leaders. According to a study by Salesforce, 86% of employees and executives cite a lack of collaboration or ineffective communication as the cause of workplace failures. Listening actively to your team not only builds trust but also enhances engagement and collaboration.

2. Driving innovation

Innovation often stems from a variety of perspectives. When leaders listen, they open the door to diverse ideas and solutions. By ensuring psychological safety in the workplace and making sure employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, leaders can drive innovation and creativity within the team.

However, the reality is not very bright.

In one study, Gallup asked European and U.S. workers if their managers were open to their ideas or if information was often shared between people or departments. The highest percentage of “strongly agree” responses to these items never topped 38%, and most were much lower.

3. Enhancing decision-making

According to a 2023 Oracle study, 85% of business leaders report suffering from “decision distress”—regretting, feeling guilty about, or questioning a decision they made in the past year.

Listening provides leaders with the necessary information to make informed decisions. By considering the insights and feedback from their teams, leaders can make more accurate and effective choices that benefit the entire organization.

4. Reducing turnover

Employee retention is closely tied to how valued individuals feel in their roles. Gallup reports that employees who feel their voice is heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work.

Furthermore, research from the UKG Workforce Institute reveals that 34% of employees would rather search for a new job than share concerns with their manager and that 74% of employees believe they’re more effective at their jobs when they feel heard.

By being an attentive listener, leaders can reduce turnover and retain top talent.

5. Building a sense of belonging and inclusion

According to APA’s 2023 Work in America workforce survey, 94% of respondents reported that it’s somewhat or very important to them that their workplace be somewhere they feel they belong.

Leadership listening and empathy in the workplace are important for building a stronger sense of belonging and inclusivity in the workplace.

Creating a workplace environment where employees feel safe to raise their concerns, ask questions, and freely provide bottom-up feedback is critical for creating a sense of belonging.

How Leaders Can Improve Their Listening Skills

While some leaders are naturally good listeners, others may need to develop this leadership skill and adopt different leadership styles. Here are practical steps that can help:

1. Practice Active Listening

Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said. It also means putting aside distractions, maintaining eye contact, and giving full attention to the speaker.

2. Ask open-ended questions

Instead of asking questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” leaders should encourage dialogue by asking open-ended questions. This not only provides more insights but also shows employees that their opinions matter.

3. Embrace employee listening platforms

Employee experience platforms like Haiilo offer valuable tools for employee listening. By leveraging these platforms, leaders can gather feedback, understand the sentiment within the team, and take action based on real-time data.

💡 Related: The Ultimate Employee Experience Guide.

4. Provide feedback

Listening is not just about hearing—it’s about responding appropriately. After listening to your team, provide constructive feedback to show that their input is valued and considered in decision-making processes.

5. Be mindful of non-verbal cues

Listening is not just about the words spoken; it’s also about understanding the non-verbal cues. Leaders should be mindful of body language, tone of voice, and other subtle signals that can convey important information.

6. Understand different leadership styles

Some leaders are naturally better listeners. But listening is a skill that can be learned. It is important that leaders understand different leadership styles and embrace the ones that encourage employees to share their voices and empower their teams to speak up freely.

For example, empathetic leaders and servant leaders are known to have excellent listening skills, which may not be transformational leadership’s biggest trait.

The Role of Technology In Employee Listening

To truly excel in leadership listening, leaders must embrace modern workplace technologies that facilitate better internal communications and employee engagement. Haiilo, for example, offers comprehensive employee experience solutions that help leaders listen to their employees more effectively. By integrating Haiilo into your employee experience strategy, you can:

Collect and Analyze Feedback: Haiilo’s platforms allow you to gather and analyze employee feedback efficiently, helping you stay in tune with your employees’ needs and concerns. Furthermore, the platform is AI-powered making it much easier and streamlined to measure employees’ pulses.
Enhance Employee Engagement: With tools that foster open communication, leaders can ensure that every voice is heard, leading to higher engagement and satisfaction across the organization.

With Haiilo, leaders can also measure the impact of their communications efforts, better understand what resonates with their audience, and how to catch employees’ attention.

Drive Cultural Alignment: Consistent listening helps leaders maintain alignment between the company’s values and employee expectations, fostering a stronger, more cohesive workplace culture.

Interesting Statistics about Leadership Listening

Let’s now dig deeper into some of the most important statistics about leadership listening and active listening.

50% of employees feel more motivated when actively listened to by their superiors

According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, managers who are perceived as good listeners are rated as 37% more effective in their roles
65% of employees believe that active listening can foster a more inclusive workplace culture
Research from DDI World shows that leaders who practice effective listening skills are five times more likely to have high levels of engagement within their teams
85% of executives believe that active listening is crucial for organizational success
Managers who actively listen are 33% more likely to retain employees
90% of top performers rate active listening as a critical skill
Active listening can reduce errors by 30% in the workplace
Active listening can increase employee engagement by 20%

Active listening is rated as one of the top 3 skills for successful leadership

Leadership Listening: Conclusion

In today’s dynamic business environment, leadership listening is not just a skill—it’s a necessity. By honing their listening abilities, leaders can build trust, drive innovation, and make more informed decisions. Tools like Haiilo can further enhance a leader’s ability to listen, providing platforms that facilitate better communication and employee engagement.

As you continue to grow as a leader, remember that the most powerful conversations often begin with listening. By prioritizing listening in your leadership approach, you can create a more engaged, innovative, and successful organization.

The Power of Leadership Listening