The Listening Shift: How Angela Built Influence Through Intentional Hearing
Angela had always been told she was a natural leader—confident, articulate, and persuasive. She believed that leadership meant having all the right answers and delivering them with conviction.
In meetings, she was the first to speak, often guiding discussions toward her vision.
But over time, she noticed something unsettling—her team didn’t seem fully engaged. Ideas dried up, collaboration slowed, and her influence seemed to plateau.
Wake-Up Call: Realizing the Missing Piece
Angela’s turning point came during a DISC leadership training session. When she received her assessment results, she saw that her dominant style leaned heavily toward “D” (Dominance)—action-oriented, decisive, but often impatient.
The facilitator pointed out that her style, while strong, left little room for others’ input. It was then Angela realized she wasn’t truly listening—she was simply waiting for her turn to speak.
The wake-up call hit hard: Her leadership wasn’t failing because she lacked ideas—it was failing because she lacked intentional hearing.
The Shift: From Speaking to Listening
Armed with this insight, Angela committed to practicing active listening as a leadership behavior. She learned to:
📝 Pause before responding, ensuring others felt fully heard.
📝 Ask clarifying questions to dig deeper into her team’s perspectives.
📝 Reflect back what she heard to show understanding and build trust.
The result? Her team started opening up. They shared ideas without fear of being shut down. Collaboration returned, and Angela’s influence grew—not because she spoke more, but because she listened better.
Angela’s DISC training didn’t just change her communication style; it redefined her leadership identity. She became known as a leader who created space for others to shine, making her not only respected but deeply trusted.
Take Your Listening to the Next Level
Want to discover the leadership blind spots holding you back?
Transform your influence by identifying your behavioral strengths and growth areas with our DISC leadership assessment. Learn the exact steps to shift from simply “being heard” to truly hearing—and leading with connection.
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Looking forward to helping you step into your full leadership potential.
Best regards,
Checree Bryant
CEO Actuate Consulting
