You can learn to be a better listener. Here's how

"Few Zoom calls have made me quite as self-conscious as my chat with Robert Biswas-Diener. An executive coach and psychologist, he recently coauthored a book on "radical listening." Like many people, I'd assumed that I was a pretty good listener, but what if I've been doing it all wrong? By the end of the conversation, my fears have been confirmed—of the half-dozen skills he describes, I demonstrate only half."

"The good news is that we can all improve, and the advantages appear to be endless. By lending a more attentive ear to the people we meet, we become better negotiators, collaborators, and managers, while enhancing our own mental health. "It can be an antidote to many problems," says Biswas-Diener. Better listeners = better on the job Being a good listener is a lot more than staying quiet"

Radical listening comprises multiple skills beyond silence and occasional nodding; many people lack several of these skills. Active listening produces measurable workplace benefits. In a 2024 study of 1,039 workers, perceived listening predicted higher organizational commitment, greater emotional resilience after stress, and increased cooperation. Managers with better listening skills more effectively soothe job insecurity following layoffs. Listening benefits extend to listeners themselves by improving mental health and social effectiveness. Listening training can improve negotiation, collaboration, and management outcomes. Practicing attentive, active listening yields both interpersonal and personal advantages across professional contexts.

Read at Fast Company