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How to develop your active listening skills
Expert Opinion from Rich Watts published January 7, 2026
When we’re rushing about in our day jobs, it is easy to assume that communication problems come from people not speaking clearly enough. In reality, many of the biggest challenges are caused by something else entirely: not listening well enough.
Active listening is one of the most powerful and overlooked communication skills in the workplace. Listening rather than speaking might seem counterintuitive, but great listening often improves performance, strengthens relationships and helps teams work together more effectively. If you are a manager or leader reading this, then you need to know that active listening is one of the simplest ways to get better results without adding more meetings, emails or processes. Win!
This article explores what active listening really is, why it matters at work, and shares some top tips and techniques on how managers and leaders can use it more deliberately to support their teams.
THE FIRST QUESTION
What is active listening?
Active listening is the practice of listening with the intention to understand, rather than simply waiting for your turn to speak. Be honest, we’ve all been a part of a conversation in the past where we are actually paying no attention to what is benign saud, and instead we are planning what we want to say next!
Active listening involves giving someone your full attention, noticing both what they say and how they say it and then checking that you have understood them correctly before responding. Active listening is not passive or lazy. It is a deliberate communication skill that requires focus, curiosity and discipline. Great leaders are often great listeners.
In the workplace, you will notice that great active listeners will be the people who are:
- Paying attention without distractions
- Listening for meaning, not just words
- Acknowledging what they hear
- Responding thoughtfully rather than reactively
When you and your team feel genuinely listened to, you will find that you are more likely to engage, contribute and take responsibility. These behaviours lead to happy, effective and empowered teams.
Discover how to train your team to become better communicators
NEXT UP
Why active listening skills matter in the workplace
Active listening has a direct impact on performance, culture and results. Organisations that are full of people who listen well tend to communicate more clearly, make better decisions and experience fewer unnecessary conflicts. They save time and money on solving these things.
Some of the key benefits of active listening at work include:
Stronger relationships and trust
When managers listen properly, employees feel respected and valued. This builds trust and psychological safety, both of which are essential for high performing teams.
Better decision making
Listening carefully helps leaders access more accurate information. People are more likely to share concerns, ideas and insights when they believe they are being heard. Active listening is a low cost way to get better business insight before we make important decisions!
Fewer misunderstandings and conflict
Many workplace issues escalate because assumptions are made or messages are half heard. Active listening reduces the risk of miscommunication and prevents small issues becoming bigger problems. This is particularly apparent within hybrid organisations that have a mix of in-person and remote workers.
Higher engagement and motivation
Employees who feel listened to are more engaged in their work. They are more likely to take ownership, collaborate effectively and contribute ideas.
For HR managers and learning leaders, active listening is also a core capability that supports leadership development, performance management and inclusive culture initiatives. Being an active listener is a vital skill for coaching, mentoring and developing the skills of your direct reports.
PRACTICAL TIPS
How to develop active listening skills at work
Active listening is a skill that can be learned and strengthened with practice. Below are practical techniques that you can use straight away to become a better listener.
1. Remove distractions
Give the speaker your full attention. Put your laptop and phones away and avoid multitasking. Even small distractions signal to you and your colleagues that listening is not your priority.
2. Listen to understand, not to reply
Notice when you are mentally preparing your response instead of listening. Slow down and focus on understanding the other person’s perspective first. Take a deep breath.
3. Reflect and summarise
Briefly summarise what you have heard and check that you have understood correctly. For example: “So what I am hearing is…” This sounds so simple but can quickly prevent misunderstandings and shows genuine engagement.
4. Ask open questions
Use questions that encourage reflection rather than yes or no answers. Questions such as “What is most important to you here?” or “What are your main concerns?” help conversations go further and give you more to listen to, and understand.
5. Notice emotion as well as content
Pay attention to the other person’s tone, pace and body language. Emotions often provide important context that words alone do not.
IN REALITY
When active listening skills should be used
Active listening is valuable in all workplace interactions, but it is especially important in certain situations.
- One to one meetings and performance conversations
- Coaching and development discussions
- Managing change or uncertainty
- Resolving conflict or addressing issues early
- Leading diverse or cross functional teams
In these moments, how well you listen often matters will give you the insight that you need to achieve everyone’s goals and generate positive outcomes.
DON'T FORGET
Active listening is a leadership skill
For managers and leaders, active listening is not about being agreeable or avoiding difficult conversations. Active listening creates the conditions for honest dialogue and shared understanding, which in turn leads to happier and more effective teams.
Leaders who listen well are better equipped to challenge constructively, give effective feedback and support their teams through change. Over time, this leads to stronger performance and a more positive communication culture.
TAKE IT FURTHER
Developing active listening skills in your organisation
While active listening sounds simple, it can be surprisingly difficult to practise consistently in fast paced environments. Many managers have never been formally trained to listen actively, despite its importance.
At Further, we help organisations and their people to develop practical active listening skills that leaders and teams can use immediately in their day to day work. Our training is tailored to focus on your real workplace conversations and situations. It comes with lots of added value designed to support participants to build habits that last.
If you would like to explore how active listening training could help your managers and teams communicate more effectively, we would be very happy to talk.
Get in touch to find out more about our active listening training programmes and how we can support your organisation to listen better and achieve more.
