If you are looking for a way to stand out as a leader, to be someone who is different from the masses around you, then have a look around you at how many people today live in a permanent state of distraction. Those people who are constantly checking their smart phones during a lunch meeting with you, who failed to make eye contact with you at a reception because they're scanning the rest of the room looking to somebody who may be more important than you, who interrupted an important meeting (or even an unimportant meeting) to answer the telephone. It's the modern disease of constant busyness, where people seem to think they have to derive their status from how busy they are – or perceived to be! What could make you different? You should develop the skill of active listening. Listening is in fact the neglected half of communications. What is it? It is: Giving wholehearted attention to the person speaking. Demonstrating, or checking, that one has understood. Not doing anything else! Active listening requires effort, but it is a trainable skill and something you can train yourself in. Its applications in leadership are many. Here are just a few: During a conflict situation. When receiving instructional guidance from your boss. When staff come to you with a problem. When you are receiving a report or an update. When conducting appraisal interviews. What is the secret of active listening? It's nowhere near as difficult as you may think, in fact it's just common sense and good manners! You simply need to do it. There are many different elements to active listening, which makes it ideal to train yourself in. It is far easier to learn and practice an individual element, and then add another element, and another and in no time at all you will have developed a comprehensive active listening suite of skills. Here are 5 actionable steps you can start to take to develop the skill: Give people your full attention - face them, make eye contact. Be ready to paraphrase back to them what they have said to you. It shows understanding. If you do not understand what is being said to you, at an appropriate moment ask “Could you explain that again?” Whilst listening give signs of encouragement. You could nod, or say “Uh-huh”. If there is a pause you may say “So what happened next?" Make sure the person has finished what they need to say before you react or respond. So few people truly actively listen – so practice the skills and raise yourself to new heights and new-found leadership skills!

1. How to develop the skill of
active listening
 Mark Hollingsworth

2. Are you looking to stand
out?
 If you are looking for a way to stand out
as a leader, to be someone who is
different from the masses around you,
then have a look at how many people
today live in a permanent state of
distraction.

3. Constant busyness
 Those people who are constantly
checking their smart phones during a
lunch meeting with you.
 Those who fail to make eye contact with
you at a reception because they are
scanning the rest of the room looking to
somebody who may be more important
than you.
 Those who interrupted a meeting to
answer or check their telephone.

4. Constant Busyness
 It‟s the modern
disease of constant
busyness.
 Where people seem
to think they have to
derive their status
from how busy they
are…
 Or how busy they
want to be
perceived to be!

5. What is active listening?
 What could make you different?
 You should develop the skill of active
listening.
 Listening is in fact the neglected half of
communications.
 But what is it?

6. It is:
 Giving wholehearted
attention to the
person speaking.
 Demonstrating, or
checking, that one
has understood.
 Not doing anything
else!

7. Applications
 Active listening requires effort, but it is a
trainable skill and something you can
train yourself in.
 There are many applications for active
listening in leadership.

8. Here are a few:
 During a conflict situation.
 When receiving instructional guidance
from your boss.
 When staff come to you with a problem.
 When you are receiving a report or
update.
 When conducting appraisal interviews.

9. What is the secret of active
listening?
 It‟s nowhere near as difficult as you may
think.
 In fact is just common sense and good
manners!
 You simply need to do it!

10. Train yourself
 There are many different elements to
active listening, which makes it ideal to
train yourself in.
 It is far easier to learn and practice an
individual element, and then add
another element, and another etc.
 In no time at all you will have developed
a comprehensive active listening suite of
skills.

11. 5 Actionable Steps
 Let‟s have a look at 5 actionable steps
you can start to take immediately to
develop the skill of active listening.

12. Step 1.
 Give people your full attention - face
them, and make eye contact.

13. Step 2.
 Be ready to paraphrase back to them
what they have said to you.
 This demonstrates understanding on
your part.

14. Step 3.
 If you do not understand what is being
said to you, at an appropriate moment
ask “Could you explain that again?”

15. Step 4.
 Whilst listening give signs of
encouragement.
 You could nod, or say “Uh-huh”.
 If there is a pause you may say “So
what happened next?”

16. Step 5.
 Make sure the person has finished what
they need to say before you react or
respond.

17. Practice makes perfect!
 Very few people
truly actively listen,
so practice the skills
and raise yourself to
new heights and
new-found
leadership skills!

18. The basics of leadership
I believe the basic skills
needed to be effective in
leadership never change
and can be learnt.
This research project has
proved to me constant
commitment to learning and
developing „the basics‟ are
the foundation to successful
leadership

19. How To Lead With Ease
 Contact me on mjhaea@gmail.com
 Visit my leadership website for tips and
advice on the basic skills of leadership
at:
 http://essentialleadershipmjh.blogspot.co.uk
 Visit my online leadership course at:
 https://www.udemy.com/how-to-lead-with-
ease/