International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations ISSN 2348-7585 (Online) Vol. 7, Issue 2, pp: (584-594), Month: October 2019 - March 2020, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
LISTENING SKILLS: A TOOL FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP Iorhen, Peter Terna The Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Topo-Badagry, Lagos State,Nigeria +2348065494353 ternaiorhen@yahoo.com
Abstract: This paper is aimed at discussing one of the components of communication which is a requisite for any leadership position. As a leader, listening for understanding is important, as well as listening for needs and desires of those served (Steil and Bommelje, 2004; Wolvin 2010a).Therefore, transactional and transformational leaders require these listening skills as a quality to function effectively. It is also an important skill that is needed to relate with stakeholders with diverse needs, desires and expectations. Many leaders take for granted and misinterpret listening to hearing and for this reason, they run into problems in the course of leading because they cannot interpret and process what is being said by their stakeholders’. This paper adopts descriptive methodology with the use of secondary materials. The paper encompasses historical perspective of listening, concepts clarification (listening as a skill and effective leadership), importance of listening, challenges of listening and effective listening techniques. Finally, for 21st century leaders to attain and actualize their leadership goals for effectiveness, listening skills have to be acquired, developed and learned. Keywords: Listening Skills, Tool, Leadership Effectiveness.
1. INTRODUCTION Leadership is a challenging and sensitive position that requires diverse skills and experiences to deliver and function effectively. Among these skills are team, decision-making, problem solving and communication skills. Listening skills being a process and component of communication is not only of great value but fundamental for every leader be it transformational or transactional. This is because they need the communication to be reinforced by a deep commitment to listening intently to subordinates so as to identify and clarify their will at any given time. Rynders (1999) said “listening is the earliest communication skill acquired, the most often used but the least mastered”. In addition, Rynders stated that, an ancient sage once said “we have been given two ears but one single mouth, in order that we may listen more and talk less.” Atwater (1992) noted that success at all levels of management may depend on how well we listen to detailed instructions or to feedback from our staff. Of all the sources of information to help a manager know and evaluate the personalities of their department members, listening to individual employee is the most important (Hunsaker and Alessandra, 1986). According to Atwater (1992), despite the amount of time spent listening, the average person does not listen very well. The normal untrained listener is likely to understand and retain only half of a conversation, immediately after hearing someone talk. Within the next forty-eight hours we forget half of that again, so that we retain only twentyfive percent of what we originally heard. Atwater also noted that throughout the years of formal schooling, students spend fifty percent or more of their communication time listening, followed by speaking, reading and writing in that order. However, the amount of training time students receive in these skills occurs in just the reverse order. The important thing is that since listening is learned, poor listening habits can be retrained. Since leadership position requires relating and connecting with stakeholders, communication in form of conversation is mandatory and this process requires attentive listening since the message and meaning obtained will serve as an input in the decision making process which will not only make the leader effective but substantive. Unfortunately, leaders hardly pay attention in their conversation with subordinates and stakeholders which negatively affects the whole communication
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