Forbes Coaches Council: Top coaches offer insights on leadership development & careers.

Leaders often rise to their positions by making their voices heard as individual contributors. Once they become part of the leadership team, however, their listening skills become more and more critical to their continued success.

Rather than brushing past or speaking over others’ ideas or concerns, an effective leader actively listens so that they can make better-informed decisions while also staying engaged with employees and stakeholders.

Dr. Chris Allen, a Forbes Coaches Council member, shares a tip on this topic.

12. “Seek First To Understand”

The old saw by Stephen Covey is a simple, but not an easy, strategy to practice: “Seek first to understand.” When you approach others with a mindset of listening to understand and of curiosity, listening improves tremendously. Moreover, the best ideas often come from members of the team and from dialogue, not from the leader alone. Thus, excellent listening skills are crucial to leaders’ success.

Read the entire article here.