IN THIS LESSON

Now that you know your listening style; here are the others.

The goal here is to share the other types of listeners you will encounter at work. It is helpful to understand the listening style someone is using in order to help you respond in a meaningful way. Try to map your friends to each style.

Results oriented listeners

Results-oriented managers tend to have 10+ years of workplace experience. You realize there is a job to get done and process what you hear in order to lead to a positive outcome. Executives like your managerial style since you move the company closer towards goals. Employees appreciate you set discrete goal posts.

Process and Structured Listeners

We have rules for a reason. You appreciate having some boundaries and frameworks to lean on when listening to others. These short cuts help you process lots of information and offer the most meaningful responses. You listen for the main info. Cut to the chase.

Relationship Oriented Listeners

Results-oriented managers tend to have 10+ years of workplace experience. You realize there is a job to get done and process what you hear in order to lead to a positive outcome. Executives like your managerial style since you move the company closer towards goals. Employees appreciate you set discrete goal posts.

Analytical Listeners

Nice. You listen for all the information and enjoy hearing things from all angles. Won't say you love hearing two employees bicker, but you have the patience and skills to hear both sides. Analytical listeners and leaders are respected for their neutral approach to leading.

Critical Listeners

Calm down. We aren't saying you are a critic on everything. We are saying that you evaluate information as you hear it. Your default approach is to question information presented to you. This approach works well in the workplace because you focus on the reliability of info before acting.

  • A common exercise is to think of a situation at work and then think how you would “hear” things in each style.

    For example, a senior leader in your organization thanks you for doing a specific project. Then they say you really weren’t supposed to do that work and please get their approval in the future. How would you hear that in each way?