Table of Contents
Introduction to Active Listening
Justin Wright’s image on What Leaders Say To Build Strong Teams, shows powerful phrases that can help develop effective health sector teams. The image lists nine affirming comments leaders may use to build team confidence, trust, and engagement. These statements span from trusting team members to asking about their health and thoughts. Each phrase creates a friendly environment that inspires people to work hard. However, to maintain high-performance teams, attentive listening is needed to maximize phrase applicability.
Discussion on Active Listening
Active listening is a crucial but frequently overlooked strategic health leadership soft skill for this approach. It’s about comprehension and interpretation, not just listening. Leaders who practice active listening can absorb not just what is said but also nonverbal signs and feelings. This talent helps team members feel heard, valued, and understood, which is essential for high-performance teams.
Active listening aids strategic health leadership (SHELDR) decision-making based on multiple views and insights. It promotes empathy, clear communication, and strong relationships, fostering collaboration toward common goals.
To return to our image, each sentence represents a supportive leadership trait:
“I believe in you” promotes confidence; “Thank you” shows appreciation; “You’ve got this” encourages perseverance; You need what? “How are you really doing?” is supportive. promotes true care outside of work; “Tell me more” encourages discussion; What can I do to help you grow? emphasizes personal growth; “I trust your judgment” shows respect for knowledge and decision-making; “What do you think we should do?” encourages inclusion and cooperation.
SHELDRs can use these nine phrases to establish high-performing health teams that deliver great results. Leaders may build team support, trust, and engagement by utilizing these phrases regularly and honestly.
Learning Activities
To improve active listening and use of these phrases, here are 5 learning activities for you and your team:
- Role Playing Exercises: Practice attentive listening by simulating team or patient interactions.
- Feedback Sessions: Ask coworkers how well you listened after meetings.
- Mindfulness: Mindful meditation improves concentration, which is essential for active listening.
- Development: Attend interactive listening classes to improve your skills.
- Journaling: Write down significant points following conversations and see if you captured important listening details.
Summary
Leaders may improve communication and connections with team members, patients, and stakeholders by actively listening. These are the hallmarks of effective and impactful leadership in the health sector.
Comments?
About the Author
I am passionate about making health a national strategic imperative, transforming and integrating health and human services sectors to be more responsive, and leveraging the social drivers and determinants of health (SDOH) to create healthier, wealthier, and resilient individuals, families, and communities. I specialize in coaching managers and leaders on initial development, continuously improving, or sustaining their Strategic Health Leadership (SHELDR) competencies to thrive in an era to solve wicked health problems and artificial intelligence (AI).
Visit https://SHELDR.COM or contact me for more BLIP-ZIP SHELDR advice, coaching, and consulting. Check out my publications: Health Systems Thinking: A Primer and Systems Thinking for Health Organizations, Leadership, and Policy: Think Globally, Act Locally. You can follow his thoughts on LinkedIn and X Twitter: @Doug_Anderson57 and Flipboard E-Mag: Strategic Health Leadership (SHELDR)
Disclosure and Disclaimer: Douglas E. Anderson have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose. The author’s opinions are his own and do not represent an official position of any organization including those he consulted. Any publications, commercial products or services mentioned in his publications are for recommendations only and do not indicate an endorsement. All non-disclosure agreements (NDA) apply.
References: All references or citations will be provided upon request. Not responsible for broken or outdated links, however, report broken links to [email protected]
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