Active listening builds trust. Trust can be damaged if your employee senses you are not fully present, and you won’t know which questions to ask next! Try some of these active listening techniques:
- Give the gift of your undivided attention by turning off devices and distractions
- Relax your body posture, face your coachee, smile and make eye contact
- Take notes and check in for clarification during natural pauses.
“So, let’s see if I’ve got this right. You’d like to improve…?”
- Don’t interrupt, but give enough feedback that the coachee feels like the process is collaborative. It’s teamwork, not therapy.
