The Art of Listening: Strategies for Leaders to Incorporate Active Listening

Active listening is one of the most vital skills for effective leadership, fostering trust, improving communication, and ensuring that every team member feels valued. Leaders who prioritize active listening not only enhance team performance but also create a culture of collaboration and innovation. Here are four actionable strategies for leaders to incorporate active listening into their communication practices, paired with real-life examples from learning and development initiatives showcasing how these strategies can be applied to actual leadership scenarios.

Strategy #1: Create Space for Open Dialogue

Leaders can encourage open communication by creating opportunities for team members to express their thoughts, concerns, and ideas without fear of judgment. This involves setting aside dedicated time for active listening and fostering an environment of psychological safety.

Practical Example: At a global technology company, leadership implemented monthly “Listening Hours,” where employees could schedule time with managers to discuss challenges or propose ideas. During a rollout of a new training platform, these sessions uncovered usability concerns that the leadership hadn’t anticipated. By actively listening to their teams, the company made adjustments that improved adoption rates and overall satisfaction with the platform.

Strategy #2: Use Reflective Listening Techniques

Reflective listening helps leaders demonstrate that they understand what their team members are saying by paraphrasing and summarizing key points. This not only confirms understanding but also shows genuine interest in the conversation.

Practical Example: A multinational retail chain faced challenges during the deployment of a new employee onboarding program. During focus groups, managers practiced reflective listening by summarizing employees’ feedback about the program’s pace and structure. This approach ensured employees felt heard, and the insights helped the company redesign the program to better meet the needs of frontline workers.

Strategy #3: Ask Thoughtful, Open-Ended Questions

Asking open-ended questions encourages deeper discussions and helps leaders gain a better understanding of team perspectives. These questions should be non-judgmental and designed to explore ideas rather than validate assumptions.

Practical Example: During a leadership development workshop, TTA worked with a manufacturing organization to improve team dynamics. Leaders practiced asking open-ended questions like, “What challenges are you facing in applying the new processes?” This approach revealed significant barriers in communication between departments, leading to targeted solutions and enhanced collaboration.

Strategy #4: Act on Feedback and Follow Up

Active listening doesn’t end with hearing concerns, leaders must demonstrate their commitment by taking action based on the feedback received. Following up with updates shows employees that their input is valued and impactful.

Practical Example: A financial services company launched a diversity and inclusion training initiative. Through post-training feedback sessions, employees shared insights on areas that required more focus, such as inclusive language practices. Leadership acted on this feedback by adding a supplemental module to the training. Regular follow-up emails outlined the changes made, reinforcing trust and showing a commitment to continuous improvement.

A Real TTA Example: Transforming Leadership Through Listening

A powerful example of the transformative impact of active listening comes from TTA’s partnership with Unum, a leading insurance company serving 33 million people and 181,000 businesses across the U.S. and U.K. Unum recognized the need to evolve its manager training program as the marketplace, clientele, and workforce continued to change. Managers were often promoted based on job proficiency, yet lacked the leadership training necessary for success in their roles.

Unum partnered with TTA to overhaul its leadership training program, beginning with a comprehensive needs analysis to better understand the unique challenges and priorities of its workforce. By listening to feedback from employees and aligning the training objectives with real-world needs, Unum successfully created a new leadership academy and learning system. This system emphasized collaboration and accessibility, addressing the diverse needs of managers with varied skill levels, ages, and leadership styles.

The results were remarkable: management confidence levels rose from 45% to 70%, program attendance grew from 50 learners during the pilot to 200 during the first full deployment, and Unum earned the 2018 Brandon Hall Silver Award for Leadership Development. This success demonstrates the power of listening—not only to uncover areas for improvement but to drive impactful organizational change.

Leadership Success Starts with Listening

By creating open environments for feedback, asking thoughtful questions, practicing reflective listening, and demonstrating follow-through, leaders can build stronger connections, inspire trust, and foster a culture of collaboration. These strategies, especially when integrated into learning and development initiatives, empower teams to feel heard and valued, ultimately driving engagement and organizational success.

When leaders prioritize active listening, they unlock the full potential of their teams, turning challenges into opportunities and transforming communication into a strategic advantage. Let active listening be the foundation of your leadership approach because great leaders don’t just lead, they listen!