Communication - Part one: Listening

Communication skills are some of the most highly prized and sought-after skills in business. And they are equally essential at home. Without communication skills we are unable to let others know what we think, feel, or want to accomplish. We are unable to build partnerships, motivate others, or resolve conflict.

Studies show that as professionals rise higher in an organization, communication skills become more important, not less.

Today's leaders don't have all the answers. (How can they?) But they know how to find the answers and, more importantly, they know how to help others find the answers.

Leaders today are listeners. They listen up, down, and all around their organization. They listen in order to:

• Pick up on problems before they get out of hand
• Uncover the causes of miscommunication and conflict
• Understand people's motives, values, and feelings
• Build rapport and mutual respect
• Discover trends that drive the way business gets done
• Gather and evaluate ideas
• Generate solutions

The kind of listening that leaders do requires a new mindset — a combination of humility ("I don't know everything") and confidence ("I'm smart enough to learn"). It brings out the best in other people, recognizing and valuing their experience. And it creates the kind of collaboration and energy that drives a winning organization.

Are you good at communicating with your colleaques? Test yourself here