Core Concepts: The Self-Aware Leadership Compass #8 - Listening
Knowing Self-Aware Leadership Minimalistical
Hello KSKOers
Welcome to today’s Knowing Self-Aware Leadership minimalistical!
The first nine Knowing Self-Aware Leadership blog articles of 2025 are exclusive extracts from my book, The Self-Awareness Superhighway, focused on the nine directions of the self-aware leadership compass. Here’s the minimalistical all about listening. You can read the full article here.
Looking forward to joining you on your learning journey!
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Leo Tolstoy
Listening
The core concepts from the article are:
Listening shows wisdom, not just knowledge – True wisdom comes from paying attention and understanding, not simply sharing facts or offering quick fixes.
Leaders need to listen to understand and to respond – Listening well means taking in what others say and giving thoughtful, timely replies when needed.
Make room for every voice in the room – It is important to create space where quieter or less dominant team members feel they can speak up and be heard.
Good listening builds self-awareness – By really listening to others, leaders learn how they are seen and can better manage their own behaviour and reactions.
Pay attention to more than just words – Leaders should listen to tone, body language, and what is not being said, to fully understand the message.
Set up meetings to support listening – Clear ground rules, especially in virtual settings, help make sure everyone has a fair chance to contribute.
Own your mistakes when you interrupt – If you talk over someone or miss a point, acknowledge it and show that you are working to improve.
Complaints often hold useful insights – Even when feedback is hard to hear, there is often something valuable behind it that should not be ignored.
Build listening habits into your culture – Great listening is not just a personal skill, it is something that should be supported across the whole organisation.
The Last Word
Good listening is a key part of self-aware and effective leadership. It is not just about hearing the words, it is about understanding the full picture, including how things are said, what is not said, and the emotions behind them. Great leaders create spaces where everyone feels comfortable to speak up and know they will be heard. This takes personal effort as well as a work culture that encourages honest, open communication. When leaders listen well and respond thoughtfully, they build trust, strengthen relationships, and help their teams work at their best.
Nia is an expert leader who talks the talk and walks the walk. She is an academically awarded thought leader in self-aware leadership and practices self-aware leadership every single day in her role as a Director in a Children’s Charity.
Find out more about Self-Aware Leadership by getting your very own copy of The Self-Awareness Superhighway! It’s an Amazon Best Seller in.....
🥇Business Management & Leadership
🥇Occupational & Organisational Psychology
🥇Business Careers
