Listening Skills are Crucial for Leaders

From an article on leadership in IT.

As an information technology professional, you probably think you're good at listening to others. After all, people in the organization are always coming to you to discuss their technology problems. And if you didn't hear what they were saying to you, you couldn't help solve their issues, right?
It may not be that simple. There's an act of listening but also an art of listening. Knowing the difference can have a significant impact on whether you get ahead in your career in IT.

This is especially true if your goal is a leadership position. Just read through the job descriptions in Robert Half Technology's "Salary Guide," and you'll find that most positions, including the top senior level, specifically state the need for outstanding communication skills. This is largely because technology professionals are now required to interact directly with many different people, both inside and outside of the organization.

But the intensifying spotlight on communication skills has many IT pros feeling exposed. They've spent years refining their technical expertise because that's what the business demanded and have thus given little time or effort to polishing their interpersonal skills.
If this describes you, how can you become a more effective listener? Here are some tips:

• Be present. Truly hearing what someone has to say requires your full attention. There are so many distractions in the office -- many of them tech-related, ironically, such as instant messaging and email -- that you almost can't help but half-listen to anyone who speaks to you, whether it's in person or by phone. But do what you can to bring yourself fully into the conversation so you can concentrate on the message that's being imparted to you. (This includes meetings, too, when you may often be tempted to glance at your smartphone.)
• Empathize. Admit it: When the technology you use doesn't work properly, you get frustrated. So, don't be so quick to dismiss or become annoyed with others when they vent to you about their IT woes. You're the person they need to contact for assistance, so they're going to look to you to be their calm in the storm. Dealing with people who are not tech-savvy may require even more sensitivity, especially when they come to you with some sincere but odd requests.
• Notice the nuances. Understanding nonverbal cues is another part of effective listening: Good listeners will sense what is not being said as well as what is verbalized. Learning how to read physical cues, such as facial expressions, or catch subtle changes in a person's speaking tone takes practice. But it's a skill that will help you not only resolve problems faster but also diffuse situations before they take an unpleasant turn.
• Don't interrupt and get clarification. Giving someone your undivided attention shows respect and can have a positive impact on your entire exchange. It also means you're less likely to misunderstand, or simply miss, what the person is saying to you. Of course, it's easy to become impatient when a customer is telling you about a problem you already know the solution for before he has finished speaking. But let the end user give you the full download before you respond. If the person does get a little long-winded, wait for an appropriate moment to interject. And if the problem requires further action on your part, make sure to repeat back what the person said to confirm you understand the issue and what you must do.
• Tune in to your teammates. IT departments are typically fast-paced with intense workloads, leaving little time for technology personnel to engage in meaningful dialogue with one another. However, make a point not to become so absorbed in your work that you constantly miss, or only half absorb, what others on your immediate team are saying. Otherwise, you may miss opportunities to learn valuable information that will allow you to work more efficiently, find solutions to problems quickly and perhaps even identify issues before they worsen.

Also remember that good listening skills apply when communicating with others beyond in-person or phone conversations.

Want to learn how to listen? See our library of FREE videos on You Tube at the web page. We also have some books and materials on the importance of listening to being a source of influence.