Listening: The most underrated communication skill
“You’ve got two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Anyone else grow up hearing that? Sometimes those simple childhood lessons become the most relevant in adulthood. We live in a world that celebrates quick responses and constant output. Active listening has become a lost art, but for leaders, it’s a powerful tool.
Listening requires presence and awareness. It involves slowing down long enough to understand what’s really being said, not only verbally, but through nonverbal cues and context.
As leaders, we’re often advised to “read the room” externally: industry trends, customer needs, competitive shifts. Those things matter for the health of the business, but what matters even more is listening to the people who show up every day to make the work possible. Your team is the foundation of your organization’s success. When they feel heard, they feel valued. And when they feel valued, they bring their best ideas, their best energy, and their best selves to the table.
Seeing is believing, but hearing is compassionate.
Listening doesn’t stop with others. We have a responsibility to also listen inward.
🧘🏽♀️ To notice when our bodies are asking for rest.
🧘🏽♀️ To acknowledge when our minds need space.
🧘🏽♀️ To recognize when our circumstances are shifting and we need to reset.
Physical health, emotional steadiness, and mental clarity all begin with paying attention to the signals we often ignore. Leadership isn’t just about guiding others. It’s about staying attuned to your full surroundings to lead with clarity, empathy, and intention.
Let’s be slower to respond and more intentional in how we listen. It’s how we keep the humanity in communication.
