Growing Great Employees: Turning Ordinary People into Extraordinary Performers

Imagine a garden where the soil is hard and barren. No matter how exquisite the seeds, without proper soil preparation, growth is stunted. The same holds true for managing employees. Listening is the essential preparation of the soil in the garden of employee development. When a manager listens attentively, paying full physical and mental attention, it signals to the employee that their thoughts and feelings matter. This is more than just hearing words; it is an active engagement that invites deeper sharing. Simple gestures like eye contact, nodding, and encouraging verbal cues create an atmosphere where employees feel safe to express their true concerns and ideas.

Listening also involves asking curiosity-based questions that seek the employee's point of view rather than imposing assumptions. For example, instead of asking, "Don't you think you should have done this earlier?" a better approach is, "What are some ways you might have addressed this sooner?" This subtle shift opens the door to honest dialogue and mutual understanding.

Another vital aspect is restating what the employee has said in your own words to ensure clarity and demonstrate understanding. This technique often leads to deeper insights as employees refine their own thinking when they hear it reflected back.

But listening is not just about outward behaviors; managers must also manage their internal self-talk. The thoughts running through a manager’s mind when an employee approaches can color the entire interaction. For instance, if a manager thinks,