Dylan Taylor, Chairman & CEO, Voyager Space Holdings.
Building strong and productive working relationships is essential for success. Collaborative and harmonious teams help drive innovation, productivity and overall workplace satisfaction. After all, many leaders spend the majority of their time throughout the week strategizing with teams, taking meetings and networking with other professionals.
However, it’s not uncommon to encounter difficult colleagues or challenging team dynamics. Poor working relationships can lead to stress, reduced productivity and a negative impact on mental health. Thankfully, neuroscientists and leadership experts have found untapped solutions to create better working relationships—and the mechanisms to do so are not neuroscience itself but social skills that we use every day.
According to psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Perry, if we move from relational poverty to relational wealth to create more interactions with others, we can have access to more creative and innovative power, happiness and well-being in our professional lives.
While many strategies exist, I see two key components that stand out as powerful solutions to help build this relational wealth: active listening and empathy.
Actively Listen During Conversations
Active listening is the art of truly hearing and understanding when someone else is talking. It involves being present and giving your full attention to the speaker, all while acknowledging their thoughts and feelings. While it sounds simple enough, active listening is often overlooked in the workplace, with many people focusing more on their thoughts and opinions than their colleagues.
According to neuroscientist Dr. David Rock, extensive research on the human brain shows how it responds to social interactions. Rock’s research, specifically, reveals that active listening can significantly impact the brain’s neural pathways, leading to better communication, improved relationships and increased productivity.
Rock also discovered that when people feel heard and understood, their brains release dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure and reward. This, in turn, can lead to a positive association with the person who is the listener, creating a stronger bond and a firmer working relationship.
Active Listening Skills
How can we put these skills to use and be more active listeners in the workplace?
• Be present. Being totally present in the moment is essential to active listening. As busy as leaders can be, I recommend that you set aside distractions like your phone or email and give the other person your full attention. Make eye contact, lean in and show that you are engaged.
• Ask open-ended questions. These questions encourage colleagues to share their thoughts, ideas and concerns openly, promoting a culture of collaboration and inclusivity. By actively seeking different viewpoints that can lead to a deeper understanding, teams can make more informed decisions and uncover innovative solutions. Examples of open-ended questions include “Will you tell me about it?” and “How are you feeling about it?”
• Reflect back on what you’ve heard. Reflective listening involves repeating or summarizing what you heard to show that you have understood and are paying attention. For example, you might say, “So, if I’m understanding correctly, you feel frustrated by the lack of communication from the team?” This technique can help clarify misunderstandings and show you are invested in the conversation.
• Practice active engagement. Active engagement involves showing that you are actively listening by using nonverbal cues such as nodding, smiling and appropriate facial expressions. This can help to put the speaker at ease and create a more positive and supportive environment.
Build Bridges With Empathy
Empathy from leaders is a catalyst for connection. It plays a fundamental role in nurturing strong working relationships and allows individuals to connect on a deeper level. It also involves recognizing and validating others’ emotions, perspectives and experiences without judgment.
Cultivating empathy starts with stepping into someone else’s shoes. Understanding and acknowledging their challenges, motivations and aspirations as team members helps create a supportive and empathetic work culture. This practice builds camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose within the team.
Further, I’ve found that empathetic leaders actively seek to provide emotional support when needed. This may involve lending an ear, expressing concern for a challenge someone is experiencing or providing assistance during hardships. By demonstrating empathy, you can create an atmosphere of psychological safety where colleagues feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns.
The Synergy Of Active Listening And Empathy
When combined, active listening and empathy can become powerful tools for building better working relationships. Active listening enhances the effectiveness of empathy by ensuring that individuals truly understand and appreciate others’ perspectives. It enables a deeper connection by validating the speaker’s thoughts and feelings and encourages open and honest communication.
Conversely, empathy enriches active listening by infusing it with emotional intelligence. Understanding and empathizing with colleagues’ experiences allows for a more nuanced interpretation of their words and behaviors. It helps decipher underlying emotions and concerns, enabling you to respond with sensitivity and support.
Applying These Skills In The Workplace
To foster better working relationships, organizations can implement the following strategies.
• Create a culture of active listening and empathy. Encourage and promote active listening and empathy as core values within the organization. Provide training and workshops that help employees develop these skills and reinforce their importance in team dynamics.
• Lead by example. Leaders should demonstrate active listening and empathy in their interactions with team members. By modeling these behaviors, leaders inspire others to act in productive ways and often create positive ripple effects throughout the organization.
• Foster psychological safety. Establish an environment where individuals feel safe to express their opinions, concerns and ideas openly. Encourage regular feedback and create platforms for open dialogue and collaboration.
In work and life, these strategies can help us better understand different and even innovative new points of view, helping build a stronger, more interconnected world teeming with ideas and wisdom.
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