Active Listening

Active Listening

You know that feeling when you're in a meeting and someone's talking, but you're already mentally drafting your response before they've even finished? Or when a team member comes to you with a problem, and you find yourself half-listening while checking emails? We've all been there. The truth is, most of us think we're good listeners, but we're actually just waiting for our turn to speak.

Real active listening is a completely different skill, and it's one that can transform your workplace relationships overnight. I've watched managers go from constantly dealing with miscommunications and frustrated staff to having teams that actually feel heard and valued. The difference? They learned to listen with their full attention, not just their ears.

Here's what happens when you master active listening: conflicts get resolved faster because people feel understood, your team starts bringing you problems earlier instead of letting them explode, and you actually get better information to make decisions with. I've seen it work in dealing with hostility situations where someone's angry or defensive - often they just need to feel heard before they can calm down and work toward a solution.

The practical benefits go way beyond just being nice to people. When you're actively listening, you pick up on the real issues behind what people are saying. That casual comment about being "a bit busy" might actually be someone drowning in work. The team member who seems resistant to change might have legitimate concerns you haven't considered yet. Active listening gives you the information you need to be a better leader and colleague.

What You'll Learn

You'll discover the difference between hearing and actually listening - it's bigger than you think. We'll cover the physical techniques that show people you're engaged, like proper eye contact and body language that invites conversation rather than shutting it down. You'll learn how to ask the right follow-up questions that get to the heart of issues, and how to paraphrase what you've heard to make sure you've got it right.

We'll also tackle the biggest barriers to good listening - your own internal dialogue, time pressure, and those emotional triggers that make you want to jump in and fix everything immediately. You'll practice managing difficult conversations where emotions are running high and active listening becomes even more critical.

The Bottom Line

This isn't about becoming a therapist or spending hours on every conversation. It's about being more effective in the time you do spend talking with people. When you listen actively, you solve problems faster, prevent misunderstandings, and build the kind of trust that makes everything else easier. Plus, you'll be amazed at how much more people will tell you when they know you're actually listening. Available in Sydney.