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Effective Listening and the Leader

Effective listening is very important that most employers provide listening skills training for their employees. According to most studies, effective listening has got several benefits not only to the organizational growth but also for personal growth. It is not surprising that effective listening leads greater productivity, customer satisfaction, increased interpersonal relations, and increased sharing of information that can lead to more creative an innovative work. While effective listening is recommended in all aspects of day-to-day activities, there are some sensitive activities or professions where it should be mandatory (Lakshmi, 2017). One of such professions is military. In nature, military is one of the most hierarchical professions where army leaders are required to engage their subordinates routinely not only by communicating orders but also listening to their feedbacks and insights. This paper, therefore, discusses effective listening and why military leaders use it.

Effective listening makes conversation brief and clear. When two parties who are in a conversation gives each other time to communicate by effectively listening to each other, there is likelihood of deeper understanding, which shortens the conversation time. According to Lakshmi (2017), good listening leads to understanding and accuracy. It highly reduces misunderstanding and mistake, and either sides tend to remember the conversation. This is very important in military and its leadership. Being one of the professions that requires members to take orders and apply them as stated, one has to have a deeper understanding of all the orders and be able to remember them later. Since effective listening makes conversation shorter and accurate, military leaders use it so that the subordinates capture every bit of instructions during conversation.

Effective listening also enhances deeper understanding of the conversation. As stated by Kirchner (2018), listening is totally different from hearing as listening require the receiver of the information not only to be attentive but also willing to understand the whole conversation without barriers of communication. Some of the barriers during conversation or communication is continuous interruption and unwillingness to be patient to understand the whole conversation. Effective listening makes the receiver to grasp every concept and detail of the conversation. Deeper understanding that is brought about by effective listening is important in military, especially to the subordinates to take orders and avoid mistakes that can come as a result of ineffective listening. As one of the most sensitive profession where following instructions is the core factor of success since it determines how goals shall be implemented, effective listening has been highly regarded by the military leadership.

Effective listeners are teachable and humble. It is important to note that as per the norms of military, orders should be followed from the leaders; however, it does not mean that those leaders’ ideas are the best hence they cannot be taught or advised by their junior. Before making final decision on a course of action, it is important for military leaders to seek feedback and consider the guidance offered with an open mind.  However, this can only happen when officer in question is an effective listener who is willing to get ideas and consider them. As stated by Lakshmi (2017), leaders should not be emotionally attached to their own ideas; therefore, if any case there is a better ideas that comes along then it should be welcomed and implemented enthusiastically.

Effective learning enhances greater trust among people who work together. One of the most effective way of enhancing a strong relation with coworkers as well as subordinates is trusting each other. Trust is trust increases commitment to attain the goals of the team. With trust, employees are comfortable with changes and willing to make certain sacrifices for the growth of an organization. However, the only way to gain that trust is how a leader communicates to his or her team members. An effective listener instill the sense of belonging hence makes employees feel that they are important part of an organization (Kaushal & Dubey, 2019). In military, trust is one of the most important factors since betrayal can lead to collapse or defat of the whole battle squad. It is in this context that military leaders cultivate the virtue of trust from their team members by effectively listening to them and considering their opinion on matters that affect them.

Lastly, effective listening is a cooler head and better method of solving problem at workplace. A study conducted by Kirchner (2018), reveals that listening reduces tension and helps both sides to cool down particularly when the parties are discussing a sensitive issue that may involve arguments. In any situation where people get involved in heated debates tension gradually disappears when both parties are able to listen teach other. On the same note, effective listening is sure way of solving problems. Two minds are better than one. Listening effectively fosters collaboration so that solutions to problems can be generated more easily and discussed before being put into action. Military leaders, therefore, use effective listening to avoid problems that may escalate as a result of heated arguments. 

 In conclusion, effective listening is an important part of communication that if applied in all professions ensures the growth as well as productivity of an organization. However, as posited in this discussion, effective listening is more important in sensitive profession such as military and has been used army leaders to ensure the success of most army camps. Military leaders use effective listening to make conversation brief but clear. They also apply effective listening to enhance deeper understanding during conversation and two enhance trust within team members.