The Unexpected Key to Servant Leadership: Active Listening
Emma prided herself on being an efficient leader. As a department head in a growing company, she believed productivity was the key to success. She kept meetings short, focused on deliverables, and expected her team to stay on track.
To her, leadership meant solving problems and making quick decisions. But despite her efforts, she noticed a troubling pattern—employees seemed disengaged, hesitant to speak up, and turnover was increasing.
One day, after a rushed meeting, she overheard two employees talking:
“It doesn’t matter what we say—she’s already decided before we even start.”
That hit hard. Was she leading, or just talking over her team?
Wake-Up Call: When Leadership Becomes a One-Way Street
Emma realized she had been treating leadership as a directive role rather than a collaborative one. She had focused so much on task execution that she had neglected the most important part of leadership—listening.
Determined to change, she enrolled in a Servant Leadership Training Program, where she learned that true leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about understanding and empowering others.
The Turning Point: Listening as a Leadership Tool
After the training, Emma made three key changes:
✅ Pausing to Listen – Instead of rushing through meetings, she allowed employees to fully share their thoughts before responding.
✅ Asking, Not Assuming – She replaced statements like “Here’s what we’ll do” with open-ended questions, encouraging employees to take ownership of solutions.
✅ Making People Feel Heard – She started summarizing and validating what employees said, proving she valued their input and wasn’t just waiting to speak.
The results were transformational. Employees who once stayed silent began offering new ideas. Team members who felt overlooked became more engaged. Productivity actually increased—not because of more directives, but because people felt heard and valued.
Are You Truly Listening as a Leader?
Leadership isn’t about giving orders—it’s about hearing what your team needs. If you’re struggling with engagement, the solution might be as simple as listening more effectively.
👉 Join our Leadership Redefined Program and master the power of active listening today!
Looking forward to helping you step into your full leadership potential.
Best regards,
Checree Bryant
CEO Actuate Consulting
