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Can You Hear Me Now?
Posted by at 6/9/2008 4:44:13 PM
Nurse leaders do you listen to your staff? I mean really listen.
If you are like me, I was promoted from staff nurse to a leadership position. I was a bedside nurse who had returned to school to obtain her BSN. But that did little to prepare me for dealing with employees. Nursing has a tendency to take “clinically expert” nurses and promote them into leadership positions without giving the nurse the benefit of leadership, communication, business or human resources training. It is no wonder many nurse leaders leave the profession stressed and frustrated. Leading employees, even if they are nurses, is a real challenge.
The ability to listen is an essential component of leadership, but few leaders know just what it takes to become a good listener. You can improve your ability to lead effectively by learning the skills for active listening. The Center for Creative Leadership’s Michael Hoppe recently authored a book Active Listening.
Let’s review some of the key skills Hoppe says contribute to good listening:
- Pay attention: Allow time and opportunity for people to speak. Pay attention to your body language and your frame of mind. Don’t make excuses, or be defensive. Operate from a place of respect, be calm and comfortable.
- Withhold judgment: Active listening requires an open mind. As a listener and a leader you must be open to new ideas, new perspectives and new possibilities. Even if you have strong opinions, withhold your criticism and avoid arguing your points right away.
- Reflect: Learn to paraphrase key points of what has been said. Reflecting is a way to indicate you hear and understand what has been said.
- Clarify: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Probing, open-ended questions are important tools. They draw people out and allow them to expand on their ideas, while inviting reflection and thoughtful response.
- Summarize: Restating key themes as the conversation proceeds, confirms and solidifies your grasp of the other person’s point of view. It also allows both parties to be clear about mutual responsibilities.
- Share: Active listening is first about understanding the other person, and then about being understood. As you gain a clearer understanding of the other person’s perspective, you can then introduce your ideas feelings and suggestions. You might talk about a similar experience you had or share an idea that was triggered by a comment made previously in the conversation.
If you apply the six skills of active listening you will not only become a better listener, you will become a better leader.
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Relationships in Nursing
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