After 25 years of coaching leaders, I've found 1 small habit that makes people instantly like you

"It's both an art and a discipline, and it's what separates average leaders from exceptional ones (while making them instantly likable in the process). The truth is, active listening is the foundation of effective communication and the heartbeat of strong relationships. Yet as technology consumes more of our attention, we're losing touch with this skill-and with it, a powerful competitive advantage in business."

"When you focus on your people-their growth, their needs, their challenges-none of it works without listening deeply first. Listen more than you talk After 25 years of coaching leaders, I've learned that the most effective ones know when to stop talking and start listening. Few things elevate a conversation more than genuine attentiveness. When you truly listen, you show respect for people at every level, demonstrate curiosity, and practice humility-three traits every great leader needs."

"I call this authentic listening. It's the ability to understand what's really happening on the other side of the conversation-to sense the will of a group, help clarify it, and create alignment around it. Management thinker Peter Drucker said it best: "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said." Authentic listeners do exactly that. They listen intuitively-not just for facts or responses, but for meaning. They lean into conversations with empathy, seeking to understand what matters most to the other person."

Active listening is both an art and a discipline that distinguishes average leaders from exceptional ones and strengthens likability. It forms the foundation of effective communication and the heartbeat of strong relationships. Technology and digital communication channels are diminishing attention and eroding this skill and its competitive business advantage. Listening requires humility, selflessness, and curiosity, focusing first on understanding others' growth, needs, and challenges. Authentic listening senses meaning beyond facts, hears what isn't said, and seeks to clarify group will and create alignment. Great listeners prioritize asking how to help and practice empathy, respect, and restraint from speaking.

Read at Fast Company