How Can Executive Coaching Services Make You a Better Leader?

Have you ever thought about what some of the most well-known, effective leaders have in common? They are phenomenal listeners. Many inefficiencies and strained relationships are the result of miscommunication. Executive team coaching can help you cultivate trust and teach you to be a better listener so you can build and lead an effective team.

What is Executive Coaching?

An executive coach helps leaders perform optimally and unleash the full potential of their team members. They are experts at managing time, identifying priorities, and defining a powerful vision for your business. One of the ways executive coaches assist leaders is by teaching listening skills so they gain insight and continually improve. 

Executive Coaching Tips

Building mutually respectful relationships is integral to being a successful leader. Listening is an excellent way to show that you value your team members’ thoughts and opinions. They are more likely to follow your lead if you are interested in their needs.

Unfortunately, people sometimes forget how to listen once they’ve become executives. Although these leaders may be great at getting things done, they might not know how to facilitate conversations, relinquish the spotlight, or make conclusions rather than take over. 

Active listening is more than just simply hearing the words the other person is saying. It is seeking to understand their meaning and intent.  

Are You Hearing or Are You Listening?

Listening is a crucial aspect of effective leadership. But not everyone does it well. 

According to research:

• 85% of our knowledge comes from listening.
• People usually listen at a comprehension rate of only 25%. 
• Less than 2% of professionals have had listening skill training.  
• Poor listening habits affect more than 70% of all employees. The result is misunderstandings, errors, arguments, stalled projects, and damaged relationships. 

Sean Kim from Growth List stated that, "The truth is, most of us are hearing to respond, when we should be listening to understand." How often do you formulate your response or make a judgment instead of giving a speaker your full attention? If you are only listening to respond, you can’t hear what others are saying over the sound of your own thoughts. This causes misunderstandings and communication breakdowns. Instead of doing that, focus only on what they are saying. And never, ever interrupt. 

Further, your members won’t feel heard unless you act on their ideas. This is the best way to communicate to your employees that you value what they said. 

Paraphrase What the Speaker Said  

Paraphrasing is an important component of active listening. It tells a speaker that you hear them. It also shows the speaker you respect them, helps you connect with them more deeply, and steers the conversation. 

While paraphrasing may seem redundant, it can save you time by helping avoid misunderstandings and giving speakers a chance to clarify if you do misinterpret. 

Paraphrasing is more than just “parroting” what the speaker said. Here’s how to do it effectively: 

• Focus on big-picture ideas rather than getting bogged down in minute details.
• Use your own words to match the speaker’s tone. 

• Use “I” statements, such as “If I understand you correctly…”
• Use synonyms and break ideas down into digestible chunks. 

Get “The Win”

If someone in your organization tells you, “You’re right,” are you winning or losing? You may be surprised to know that, “You’re right,” actually means you are losing.  

Why? People don’t say, “You’re right,” because they agree with what you said. They say it because they feel defensive. They can’t argue with your logic, but they won’t change their behavior. 

Instead of saying, “You’re right,” you want them to say, “That’s right.” That means they are agreeing about something objectively true. 

So how do you get them to say, “That’s right”? Again, listen, listen, and listen. 

Watch for Nonverbal Cues 

According to research, 65% of communication is nonverbal. When you pay attention to a speaker’s nonverbal cues, you can tell if they are anxious, nervous, tired, or expressing any other emotion. Nonverbal cues may also help you decipher a speaker’s true intent if they are sending mixed signals. 

Your nonverbal cues are also important to help the speaker feel at ease, which allows them to communicate more openly. If you don’t appear to be listening – even if you actually are – the speaker won’t feel heard. To demonstrate you are listening, don’t fold your arms, smile, and nod when appropriate. 

AchieveNEXT’s Executive Coaching Services 

AchieveNEXT’s executive team coaching helps you build better teams and lead them more effectively. Together, our executive coaching services professionals have decades of experience that we put into practice so you can overcome obstacles of productive leadership. 

In addition to executive coaching services, AchieveNEXT provides:

• Career services
• Leadership training
• Manager development 

• Inclusive leadership and business relationship training 
• Women’s leadership guidance
• Sales effectiveness training 
• Keynote speaking assistance

Contact us for answers to questions such as “How much does executive coaching cost?” and “What can AchieveNEXT do for my organization?”