How to Listen More Effectively

Nov 4 2020

The election shouting may end this week—hopefully—but the feeling that no one is listening to us is likely going to linger. And not only in the political arena but at work too.

Indeed, experts say the US presidential election season, which has lasted two years, only mirrored a growing feeling among workers that their leaders talk at them, not with them. That feeling only magnified at work when video calls and masks became routine during the pandemic. “Leaders and employees are stuck in a communication cycle of giving information and providing updates instead of really connecting,” says Dennis Baltzley, Korn Ferry’s global solutions leader for leadership development.

It doesn’t help that many people, according to years of research, aren’t great listeners in the first place. That’s particularly true when the topic involves something distressing or uncomfortable, as has been much of the conversation between employees and leaders this year.

With that in mind, Korn Ferry searched for a few ways to help managers at all levels—not to mention one colleague to another—become more effective listeners.

Read More

See More Posts

Black History Month: 3 Diversity Headwinds—and 3 Solutions

Black History Month: 3 Diversity Headwinds—and 3 Solutions

by JT Saunders, originally posted by Korn Ferry in KF Insights For decades, company leaders have been saying they want to make their organizations more inclusive and diverse. Those efforts became even more widespread in the wake of the George Floyd killing. Now, as...

read more
The Gift that Keeps on Giving

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

by Amelia Haynes, originally published by Korn Ferry Institute Do you know that feeling you get when a stranger holds the door for you? Or when your partner surprises you with a gift? Or when your coworker offers to take something off your plate during a busy week?...

read more
A Year in Search of Purpose

A Year in Search of Purpose

by Daniel Goleman, originally published by Korn Ferry in KF Insights Looking back over the past three years of disruption and unrest—no word could be more appropriate than “CHANGE.” Can I change my career? Can I change my location? Can I change the world? These are...

read more