An effective manager is one who listens. No leader can know everything, nor can he have full insight about what is going on in the trenches - unless he listens to his people. Failing to listen to employees, another behavior of the anti-leader and Crass Captain, will not only deprive you of valuable insight, it will also cost you in morale and performance.
When an employee approaches you with a need to communicate at whatever level, set aside your work for the moment, and give the speaker your undivided attention. Do not interrupt the talker at mid sentence; it’s a sign you’re not listening. Allow some pause before jumping in. Smile and lean forward. It’s a sign that you are fully engaged in listening. Ask questions, even though you understand what’s being discussed. Questions tell the person that you are listening. Paraphrasing indicates that you are listening and trying to fully understand the topic. Questioning also aids retention of the conversation. It has been said that 50% of the conversation is retained immediately afterwards. Two weeks later the figure drops to 25%.
Motivation - Most employees have a genuine interest in the well being of the company. The main motivators are advancement, type of work, and a company to be proud of. It has been found that pay, benefits, and working conditions take a back seat. Listening to your employees is a large motivator. [Other important motivators are rewards on performance, accessibility to the boss, and knowing what is over the horizon.]
Employees want to know that they are contributing to company success and their suggestions can make a difference. When they sense that they are ignored or put down, they can develop a resentment, which impacts their care for the good of the company. Explain that you are grateful for their effort and interested in their ideas, but you may not adopt them without further study.
You will be amazed at the quality of ideas and increase in productivity when you give your employees respect and recognition for their dedication and willingness to contribute.
Not just face to face – Communications can take many forms, such as larger meetings, phone calls, memos, teleconferences, or video calls, and personal letters. Acknowledging these communications assures the employee that you have listened, you consider new ideas valuable, and you will give attention to questions in the future. Providing new communications tools empowers employees to be more productive and provide excellent service to customers. Listening to employees is a form of feedback, and the manager needs to learn the response to his actions. Feedback from sales people will telegraph what the customer is saying and what their needs are.
Working closely with employees, sharing information about the company’s goals and listening to feedback and suggestions will help you to develop a cohesive team that is committed to achieving company goals. Listening and sharing goes a long way in assuring success in the organization.
Get Higher Performance Through Employee Empowerment
An empowered workforce can accomplish remarkable things. Start with star performers with potential. Then empower your employees and supercharge your people for high performance.
Why is Work Process so Vitally Important?
Having good, clear, documented work processes is not beaurocratic. Following a process does not take longer. Conversely, a good, clear work process actually streamlines a lot of employee work and reduces stress. Everyone knows exactly what they are supposed to do. Better teamwork is a major benefit.
The Importance of Employee Trust in Management - Announce What It Will Be, Then Do It
In order for a business to thrive, employees must believe in and trust their management. Management must believe in and trust employees. Distrust has many negatives to the business. Building trust is a worthwhile effort.
