That means communicating back to the person you are speaking with that you understand what they have been saying. It is also important to use active listening skills. The tradition of “holding questions until the end of a brief” stems from the fact that many questions are answered in due course if we allow others time to fully explain their ideas. Be careful with knee-jerk reactions to what you are hearing. In other words, don’t be afraid of a few moments of silence. Let them finish their thought and then take some time to think through your answer. For starters, try to focus on what someone is saying overall before you formulate a response. Effective leaders master the art of “listening to understand” as opposed to “listening to respond.” A concerted effort is required to hone this skill. So how does one become an effective listener? For starters, it takes lots of practice. If your team knows you listen and knows you care, they will follow you wherever you lead them. Those moments come both on the battlefield and in the garrison. Approaching your Soldiers in this manner will work wonders in the difficult moments when you must ask a little bit more from your team. Don’t just ask “how was your weekend” and walk away. This can be accomplished through formal counseling sessions or by simply taking the opportunity to ask them how they are doing. Make it a point to give your Soldiers an opportunity to talk to you. Soldiers only bring their problems to leaders who have shown through their actions that they care and are willing to listen. By the same token, if they feel as if you are not interested in their experience or opinion, your partnership will quickly fall apart. If your NCO counterpart feels like their opinion is sought and valued, they will move mountains for you. The officer NCO relationship is in many ways like a marriage. Officers should remember that feeling heard is one of the most important desires people have emotionally and that Soldiers are human beings under their uniforms. You cannot lead those who do not trust you, and one of the best ways to build trust is by listening to and caring about your team. Consequently, they will be much more effective in their role of leading Soldiers. Perhaps more importantly, officers who are approachable professionally are by extension showing themselves to be approachable personally. Try not to be the officer who nobody sees all day. To combat this, an officer should have time dedicated in their personal battle rhythm to being out and moving around. Today’s officer corps often feel tethered to their computers and email. Listening means getting out of your office and spending time with your team. If a better one comes along it should be embraced enthusiastically. Officers should not be emotionally attached to their ideas. Before you make any final decisions on a course of action, ask for feedback and consider the counsel offered with an open mind. Remember, the rank you hold requires that your orders be followed, but does not necessarily mean your idea is the best one. However, those who keep an open mind and seek advice will likely succeed in mission planning and execution ahead of their peers.Įffective listeners are humble and teachable. Because it is up to the officer to make the final decision at their level, listening does not necessarily mean you must follow all given counsel. Listening to gain perspective on assigned missions or tasksĪn officer who demonstrates by their actions an attitude of willingness to listen will have a more cohesive team and greater mission accomplishment. But first, you must be approachable and willing to listen.” These team members can provide historical examples of past issues and help guide your decisions. Every team has experienced members that are an extremely valuable resource. Troy Lord, a CH-47 Flight Engineer with the Texas National Guard’s 2-149th General Support Aviation Battalion, guides a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, as Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 133rd Field Artillery, hook up a 105mm Howitzer during an air assault exercise on Fort Hood.
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