Summary
Creating an environment where employees feel like they are heard increased engagement & retention.
Listening with intention shows you are listening to understand instead of listening to respond.
Did you know when people feel like they are heard they are 4.6 more likely to feel empowered to do more and go the extra mile? And, empowering your employees increases your employee engagement, retention, and productivity.
Creating an open environment to be heard begins with listening. Isn’t it a coincidence that LISTEN and SILENT have the same letters? We may think we are listening when we are silent, however, we may be focusing on what we are going to say next.
Listening with intention shows you are listening to understand instead of listening to respond. This starts with maintaining eye contact and removing distractions such as our phones.
In addition, rephrasing what the person just said shows you are listening with intention. For example, start with “To make sure I understand” and restate what you heard.
Rephrasing shows where there may be gaps in your understanding or highlights something you haven’t considered before to help with the solution or provide additional perspective. It also helps create a culture of collaboration where everyone is heard.
Would you like to learn more about increasing employee engagement and retention? Schedule a 30-minute complimentary strategy session here where we will build an action item based on your current need.
