The Importance of Listening in Management, Essay Example

Introduction

Good day ladies and gentlemen. It gives me great pleasure to address you on the topic, ‘Importance of listening in management.’ If I ask, are you a good listener? I am sure everyone will answer in a chorus, ‘yes.’ I would too. The assumption we all make as novices at listening that it means hearing, but we could hear and did not listen to a word the person said to us. In my speech today I will enlighten you concerning some misunderstandings we have inculcated about listening. First, with references to listening experts a few concepts will be explored along with identifying features or characteristics that help us realized whether others are listening to us or we are listening to them. Finally, I will leave you with some strategies on how each of us could improve our listening abilities.

Concepts of listening

Julian Treasure (2014) a listening expert confirmed that listening is actually making meaning of sound. As such, it takes one far beyond hearing words. For example, when someone speaks to me I hear words. If they are not spoken in a language for me to understand no sense is made of the words neither sounds emanating from them. If Treasure’s (2014) assumption of listening is authentic then once no meaning was made of the sound, no listening occurred. Likewise, another concept of listening emerges. If no meaning was made of the sound, this then requires interpretation to be an outcome of listening. What does interpretation produce in terms of management practices?  Some synonyms ascribed to the word include understanding and clarity.

This is one reason  for reflecting on the importance of listening in management practices, more so understanding what it means to listen. Consequently, other concepts often adapted to listening by experts functioning in organizations relate to listening being a means of communication. Let us now conduct a brief exercise showing how listening is making meaning of sound and interpreting (understanding, clarifying) as well as communicating. There are approximately 25 persons in this room. Now quickly form a semicircle. To the person at the left hand top I will whisper a statement and you will pass it on to the person next to you until it reaches the last one in the circle. Now let me hear what meaning was made of the sounds transmitted in words. Well, it is a completely different interpretation which was intended to be communicated to the first person (Imhof &  Janusik, 2006).

This brings us to our final and fourth listening related concept, which is the listening channel. Listening is channeling sound. Experts have recognized that the most powerful listening channel of sound is the human voice. For the next few moments just listen to the sound of my voice, interpret the sound and find meaning to what is being communicated. It is very  important that managers understand the significance of their voices in transmitting sounds that staff could interpret their messages correctly as communication is activated (Treasure, 2011).

Features of speaking to demand people’s listening attention

Julian Treasure (2014) cited a number of elements that influence whether people would listen to the sounds they hear, simply walk away or as in this case leave the room. He calls them the deadly sins of speaking. He highlighted gossiping. In many organizations this is responsible for  many industrial unrests nourished by a clique culture. Persons who do not indulge in gossips would seldom listen to a gossip especially, if in next few minutes he/she would be gossiped about too (Julian, 2014).

Another feature is negativity. When an optimistic human mind meets with negativity immediately it creates a distraction and listening is inhibited. In the same way is complaining. Some people complain about everything even when there is no reason for it. It seems as though they are made up. This is a reason for some people not listening to the news because the contention is that there is always some complaining either about the government, people or the world affairs. Others include judging when speaking to an audience or another person. Once the speech sounds judgmental and critical the listening interest is killed. Maintaining the truth  the speaker grasps and keeps the attention of the listener. When the speaker is discovered to be lying no one continues to listen (Julian, 2014).

How to improve listening abilities

Paying attention to listening concepts as well as reasons that inhibit listening, managers will have tools, which can be utilized in enhancing their own listening skills. Experts have advanced the mnemonic HAIL in helping managers and public figures improve their listening strategies. H- Signifies honesty. Managers have the responsibility of bringing to staff an honest view of operations in their organizations. Certainly, if staff finds us honest there would be no problem listening because they can believe the information, which is communicated. First we must practice honesty in our immediate environment at home and with ourselves before this can be reflected in the organizations we manage (Imhof &  Janusik, 2006).             .

A – Represents authenticity. The override of honesty is authenticity. What do I communicate to staff and people about me? Do they hear me make one type of statement before their faces and another when they leave the room? Authenticity means addressing an issue in a space of blending personal and professional values for the organization’s benefit. For example, a problem regarding supply of a particular product may emerge in the company, which might have been an oversight of management in ordering the products. Customers are agitated and harassing frontline staff accusing them for the inconvenience. As a manger do I go to the forefront and further discredit staff members in front of customers or do I appeasingly shift the blame where it should be? In this way authenticity is established with both pressured staff and agitated customers.

As such, it is guaranteed that I will be listened to another time. With authenticity comes integrity for the I, in HAIL. Sometimes integrity is confused with honesty and authenticity, but people can be honest and authentic but struggle with integrity because it means firmly being whole and undivided in our decision making and commitment. How many times as managers when faced with a decision making situation to benefit employees because it conflicts with organizational revenue goals we lean on the side of management. This is instead of fairly saying that employees work hard and they deserve some incentives too (Treasure, 2 011)

It means improving listening skills from the perspective of commanding respect by applying the HAIL principle of effective listening in management. Finally, is L – representing love. This does not mean romantic love as the word is often used to communicate, but filial affection for each other. We live in a world where people do not know how to respect each others’ emotions or express empathy any longer. As such, it is easy to judge, gossip and humiliate one another. Love means refraining from practices of injustices in the world or environment.

Conclusion

In recapping, four related listening concepts were highlighted. They were making meaning of sound, interpretation, communication and channel. Some deadly sins hindering others from listening to us as managers were revealed.  HAIL was utilized as the mnemonic for improving listening skills. Have a wonderful rest of the day. Thank you.

References

Imhof, M., &  Janusik, L. (2006). Development and Validation of the Imhof-Janusik Listening Concepts Inventory to Measure Listening Conceptualization Differences between Cultures. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research 35(2); 79-98

Treasure, J. (2014). How to Speak so That People Want to Listen. You Tube Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIho2S0ZahI

Treasure, J. (2011).Five ways to listen better.You Tube Video. //www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSohjlYQI2A