I’m a CEO and the most underrated business skill is one most people are terrible at
Source | www.businessinsider.com.au | OMAR TAWAKOL
When I was the senior vice president and general manager of the Oracle Data Cloud, I once hosted a vendor who wanted to market data through our platform. The salespeople pitched to us before they even understood what we did. Their examples not only were irrelevant to our services, but also highlighted our competitors. If they had only listened to our needs before diving in, we could have enjoyed a productive conversation. Instead, they left without a signature.
Active listening could have saved that deal.
When someone concentrates fully on a conversation, considers the content, and demonstrates an understanding of the message, the person on the other side feels valued – and is more likely to be agreeable. Bad listeningcreates the opposite effect.
Strong conversational skills aren’t just for salespeople, though. Everyone – from CEOs and product managers to newly minted college graduates – could use a crash course inthe forgotten artof active listening.
Don’t just hear someone – listen to them.
Active listening is beneficial for everyone engaged in a conversation. The speaker feels appreciated, and the listener retains more information and earns favour from the speaker. Everyone wins.
Gallup research has found that themajority of employeesfeel disengaged at work. A commitment to active listening could help leaders and co-workers repair that disconnect and boost engagement rates within their teams. Here are five ways to get started.
