Is Listening Important?

By Vicki Wrona, PMP:

I was watching Oprah’s Master Class with Morgan Freeman and in the show he said something I thought was profound. He said, “Is listening important? I can’t think of a single walk of like where it wouldn’t be.” I agree. The question is how do we apply this to our work and lives?

He said that as an actor, to get ahead in life, or in any area, you must be watching and listening carefully. In the show, he said, “I don’t think you’re going to get anywhere in life if you don’t listen, and certainly not as an actor.” When prepping for his role as Nelson Mandela in Invictus, he spent time with Nelson Mandela and observed all the little tics and mannerisms that made the man who he is. That is what a good actor brings to a role.

We must do the same thing as a project manager or a manager of people. When meeting with stakeholders on a project, we must watch and listen for their real requirements, the real needs behind what they say they want, the real concerns behind their reluctance. What is their real problem? What can we produce that will solve their real problem and not just a symptom? What do they really want and how do they want it? Why do they want it?

When managing people, we need to listen to their needs as well. Why are they doing the job they are doing? What motivates them? What are their goals? Everyone is motivated by different things, and each person brings their own priorities to the workplace. How can we best lead this person so that we get the quality work we need from them while appealing to their needs and goals? Both parties need each other. How can we best satisfy those needs?

The bottom line is that we have to remember to listen. It takes an effort. We all know we need to do it and yet we often fall into our old habits. I personally have worked on this. I have gotten better about talking less and listening more. But when I am tired or not thinking or stressed or frustrated, I revert back to old habits. This is a lifelong skill we have to work to develop.

What do you do to listen more?