5 Ways Travel Managers Can Become Better Listeners

Travel managers need to be able to do many things. There is however, one free skill that will increase proficiency and value to your company: the skill of active listening. It is what will enable you, not just to get the best out of your employees, but also to get the facts that you need to make a decision. This skill needs to be learnt, so this post gives you some of the basics to become a better listener.

 

Attention Focus

This seems obvious at first. You can’t hear what somebody’s saying if you’re distracted by phone ringing or if your email keeps pinging. It also means demonstrating to your colleague that you’re listening. A key part of this is eye contact; it shows that they have your attention but should not be aggressive.

Non-Verbal

A lot of what’s communicated is not said. Despite this post being entitled listening, a key part is learning to understand the non-verbal signals coming from your colleague. It will tell you about their certainty, confidence and how they are trying to deliver their message.

Reflection

Showing you’re engaged, by copying your colleague’s actions, will make it much easier for them to communicate their message. If they can’t read you, or you’re not registering any reaction – the classic poker face – they will likely become distracted or lose confidence. The trick is reflecting a certain amount of their actions; smiling, head nodding and so on.

Time to Finish

How often has somebody told us what they think before you’ve delivered our full message? Not allowing colleagues time to finish their sentences is a sure way of not hearing what they’re saying. By all means engage with what they’re saying and, where necessary, constructively steer them but don’t cut them off.

You Don’t Know It All

If you did know everything you would not need to hear from subordinates. Try and allow a speaker to offer their conclusions before drawing yours. This can be difficult as we’re not programmed this way but at the least endeavor to be aware of your prejudices and predispositions. That way, you really hear what they’ve got to say.

Developing good listening skills is not easy. On the other hand, it does not need much time or cost much to learn. If you concentrate on improving one aspect at a time, you’ll quickly find you’re getting much more out of what your employees and colleagues are saying.

Philadelphia Limousine is a corporate and luxury ground transportation service that supports private and business transportation needs in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Delaware and  New York.