Are you listening to me?

As an employee, do you feel your boss really listens to you? As a boss, do you think you are really listening to your employees?

Listening is hard work! But, a recent posting on the Washington Post's On Leadership: The Federal Coach has some tips and advice for those wishing to pay more attention to their listening skills.

1. Listen, repeat, ask questons to gather more information.

2. Don't be afraid of silence. It will seem awkward, but you might be surprised at what someone might say to fill the silence.

3. Be frank about what you can and cannot do. If something is beyond your control, let your employees know that. If you can fix something, state the action you plan to take.

4. Follow through with any commitments.

That doesn't seem so hard does it? Read the entire article by Tom Fox of the Partnership for Public Service for more detail.