Congratulations! You've been promoted to a managerial role. The excitement is palpable, but if you're like most new managers, there's also a nagging question in the back of your mind: What now? You've entered uncharted waters, and the skills that made you successful as an individual contributor won't necessarily serve you as a leader. You’ve got expectations to meet, a team to lead, and goals to crush. So, what's the first skill you need to master? Is it decision-making? Strategic thinking? Time management? While all of these are essential, you should start somewhere else. Based on insights from over 200 CEOs, business owners, division heads, and team leaders I've spoken to, there's one skill that stands above the rest:

Listening.

Not just hearing what others are saying but truly listening and understanding the other side. Let's see why this skill is so critical, the groups you need to focus on, and how you can develop it starting today.

Why listening is the foundation of leadership

At first glance, listening might seem passive, even simplistic. After all, haven't we all been doing it since childhood? But as you move into leadership, you'll quickly realize that effective listening is anything but passive. It's a deliberate, active process that builds relationships, improves decision-making, and fosters a culture of trust.

Here's why it matters:

• Builds connection: people feel valued when they know they're heard. Listening is one of the simplest yet most profound ways to show respect.
• Strengthens decision-making: as a manager, you need input from various perspectives to make informed decisions. The better you listen, the better equipped you'll be to lead your team in the right direction.
• Reduces conflict: misunderstandings are often the root of workplace conflict. Active listening helps clarify intent and align everyone toward common goals.
• Inspires loyalty: leaders who listen create an environment where people feel safe to express themselves. This, in turn, boosts engagement and retention.

In short, if you want to lead effectively, you must start by listening well.

Who should you listen to?

To become an exceptional manager, you need to focus your listening efforts on three key groups:

1. Your boss: your boss sets the tone for your priorities and success as a manager. Understanding their expectations is critical, but requires more than simply nodding along in meetings. You need to actively listen to what they're saying—and what they're not saying.

• Listen for clarity: what does success look like from their perspective? What are their biggest concerns?
• Ask questions: what would they prioritize if they were in your position? How can you align your efforts with their vision?

When you truly understand your boss's expectations, you'll find it easier to navigate priorities, gain their trust, and secure the support you need.

2. Your team: your team is your most important asset; the better you understand them, the better you'll lead. Effective listening here means being attuned not just to their words, but also to their body language, tone, and emotions.

• Listen for struggles: identify recurring challenges or frustrations holding them back from doing their best work.
• Listen for successes: understand what they’re proud of and what’s working well.
• Be open and approachable: create a judgment-free environment where they feel safe to share their thoughts and ideas.   

When you listen to your team, you not only gather invaluable insights for decision-making but also foster a sense of trust and loyalty. People want to work for leaders who value their input.

3. Your customers: whether your customers are internal stakeholders or external clients, their voice is critical to your success. Listening to their feedback provides a wealth of information on what's working and where you need to improve.

• Identify pain points: what are their challenges, frustrations, and unmet needs?
• Spot opportunities: what do they value most? How can you deliver more of it?
• Follow up: let them know you've heard them and outline what actions you're taking based on their feedback.

Listening to your customers and acting on it strengthens relationships and ensure your team's work aligns with the broader organizational mission.

How to develop your listening skills

Now that you know who to listen to, let's talk about how to sharpen your listening skills. Here are some practical strategies you can implement:

Be present 

Listening requires focus, so get rid of all distractions. That means putting away your phone, smart watch, turning off notifications, closing your laptop, and giving your undivided attention to the person in front of you. When people see you're fully present, they'll feel valued and more willing to share openly.

Ask open-ended questions

Instead of asking questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no," go deeper. For example:

• "Can you walk me through your thought process?"
• "What's the biggest challenge you're facing right now?"
• "How do you see this project going forward?"

These questions encourage the other person to open up and provide more insightful responses.

Practice Active Listening

Active listening goes beyond simply hearing words. It means to:

• refrain from interrupting, even if you’re eager to respond. Let them finish their thought,
• not rushing responses in your head before they are done speaking,
• taking a moment to respond, sometimes repeating their last 2-3 words,   
• paraphrase what they said to confirm understanding,
• summarize key points at the end of the conversation,
• ask clarifying questions to dig deeper into ambiguous statements.

Manage your emotions

It's easy to get defensive or impatient when you hear something you don't like. But great listeners stay calm and open-minded, even in challenging conversations. Take a breath, focus on understanding, and resist the urge to interrupt

Reflect and adjust

After conversations, take a moment to reflect. What did you learn? How can you act on what you heard? Over time, this habit will strengthen both your listening skills and your ability to lead effectively.

Final thoughts

Listening isn’t just a skill—it’s the key to unlocking trust, understanding, and success as a leader. When you make others feel heard, you build the bridges that make extraordinary things possible. So start today.  

Because when you listen well, you'll lead even better.

Watch this short video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EdNvgI4LxjY

ACTION STEPS:

Here are three simple steps to get started today:

1. Schedule a listening check-in: identify one person from each key group—your boss, a team member, and a customer. Schedule a 15-minute conversation with each of them this week and focus solely on listening.
2. Practice active listening daily: challenge yourself to fully focus on every conversation for the next week, according to Practice active listening bulletpoints.
3. Reflect and take action: after each conversation, write down the most important insight and how you'll act on it. Share your follow-up with the person to show them you value their input.