A good manager communicates effectively, and one of the most essential skills to have when communicating is listening. It is vital to speak well and to get your points across, but if you only talk, you are only involved in one side of the story or discussion.
A manager must take on board what his team says, what his superiors instruct, and bring these conversations together to form their next step. It is tempting for managers to focus on how they issue instructions, but engagement must be a two-way street, and managers must learn how to listen.
You must ask the questions which allow people to speak
While managers want to create an open and welcoming environment, this doesn’t happen overnight. A manager may have to open up the conversation, and this is why it is vital managers know how to ask questions that engage their team members.
Just because a person doesn’t feel empowered or confident enough to come to you with an issue doesn’t mean they don’t have problems. They may be waiting for a manager to raise the conversation, but if the conversation doesn’t start, the employee never gets to share their thoughts and opinions.
This can hamper the company’s growth or ability to operate. Therefore, managers must learn how to engage their team members and be proactive in enabling employees to discuss their views on various work matters.
You must create an atmosphere where people are free to talk
Over time, managers should be keen to create an environment where opinions can be voiced freely. There are many ways this can be achieved. Managers need to determine which styles work best for them, and for their team.
A system which works perfectly well for one manager or working environment may be entirely unsuitable for another professional or team. Therefore, managers need to have a good understanding of their team, and what encourages them to feel at ease or to feel confident.
Many companies have a culture, and this is the starting point for understanding how professionals engage with each other and with management levels. This creates a situation where managers must know and understand their employees and company before they implement too many strategies or work plans.
You should create a conversation where people listen and speak
Not only is it vital for managers to listen, but every employee must also listen. The importance of two-way communications, where people digest information and can act upon what they hear or are told to do, is crucial.
Many workplaces falter because too many employees are focused on what they do and say without looking to work as a team. When a manager creates a working environment based on respect, there is a higher chance of success.
You must create connections between different levels
Another good reason managers need to learn how to listen is because they will often take instructions from their superiors. Managers must ensure they understand the instructions passed to them, and ensure these instructions are passed to workers. A manager that cannot listen will not fully comprehend their instructions, and this will hamper the company’s ability to prosper.
At Global Solution Services, we believe management training is ideal for current managers, and people with a driving ambition to become a manager. We are pleased to say we are running a range of management training courses in the opening months of 2020, and we look forward to welcoming you.
If you would like to learn more about our two-day management training courses with dates in January, February and March, please contact us today. We are running courses in Kensington and Croydon, so hopefully, there is an option near you.