Army leaders must be effective communicators in order to lead effectively. This means being able to listen as well as speak. Listening is a critical part of communication, and it is especially important in the military.
Why is listening so important in the military? First, the military is a hierarchy. Army leaders need to be able to understand orders from their superiors and communicate those orders to their subordinates. Second, the military is a very fast-paced environment. There is often little time for lengthy explanations or back-and-forth discussion. Army leaders need to be able to listen quickly and accurately in order to make decisions in a timely manner.
Finally, lives may literally depend on effective communication in the military. In combat situations, Army leaders need to be able to listen to and understand critical information from their fellow soldiers. This information could be about enemy movements, changes in the battlefield, or other important matters. If Army leaders cannot listen effectively, they put themselves and their men at risk.
Listening is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice. Army leaders who take the time to improve their listening skills will be more effective communicators and better leaders overall.
With the above in mind, it’s important to discuss how a leader can engender motivation inside and outside of the chain of command. (ADP 6-22, p. 1) The distinction between listening and hearing is that listening involves our other senses to assist us understand what is said whereas hearing involves only our ears. To be an effective Army Leader, you must not merely listen to your troops but also be a good listener. It means paying attention to the words spoken by the speaker and their meaning.
Listening also involves attending to and understanding the speaker’s nonverbal cues. This can be difficult at times because as humans we are not always honest with our words, however, if we take the time to listen to what is being said and not just hear the words we can be more effective Army Leaders.
There are four different levels of listening that Army Leaders use; they are:
1) Preoccupied- The Army Leader is thinking about something else while the soldier is talking and not really paying attention to what is being said.
2) Selective- The Army Leader hears some of what the soldier is saying but is only focusing on certain parts of the conversation.
3) Attentive- The Army Leader is fully engaged in the conversation and is taking in everything that is being said.
4) Empathic- The Army Leader not only hears what the soldier is saying but also understand how the soldier is feeling.
The most effective Army Leaders are able to use all four levels of listening depending on the situation they are in. Being an effective listener requires Army Leaders to be patient and to be respectful of their soldiers. It also requires Army Leaders to withhold judgment and refrain from interrupting. Lastly, Army Leaders must be able to ask questions when they do not understand something.
There are many benefits to Army Leaders being effective listeners. Some of those benefits are:
– Helps build trust between the Army Leader and the soldiers
– Army Leaders are able to collect more information
– Army Leaders can show they care about their soldiers
– Army Leaders can better understand their soldiers’ needs
Army leaders who are effective listeners are able to build trust with their soldiers. When Army Leaders take the time to listen to their soldiers it shows that they value what the soldier has to say. This in turn helps build trust between the Army Leader and the soldier. Army Leaders who are effective listeners are also able to collect more information from their soldiers. This is because when Army Leaders listen attentively they are able to pick up on the nonverbal cues that the soldier is giving off.
These nonverbal cues can provide Army Leaders with information that the soldier may not be saying with their words. Army Leaders who are effective listeners can also show they care about their soldiers. When Army Leaders take the time to listen to their soldiers it shows that the Army Leader is interested in what the soldier has to say and that the Army Leader cares about the soldier as a person.
Lastly, Army Leaders who are effective listeners can better understand their soldiers’ needs. When Army Leaders take the time to listen to their soldiers it allows them to get to know the soldier on a more personal level. This can help Army Leaders better understand what their soldiers need both personally and professionally.
It is a technique of active listening in which the listener assumes responsibility for comprehending the message and sentiment being spoken, and then inquires with the speaker to verify that he/she heard correctly. When someone is speaking, you should demonstrate content, feelings, procedure, and clarification. Make sure you stay attentive to the attitude as well as the environment. To be paying attention, there must be a response from the listener.
The Army Values are always there to help you with the right attitude. You should also be aware of the time, place and situation. All this together will make sure you are an effective listener in the military.
Some Army values that can help when listening are “Respect,” “Dignity,” and “Integrity.” As a leader in the Army, it is essential that you listen to your subordinates. They may have information or ideas that could be vital to the mission. Listening also shows that you care about what they have to say. Additionally, listening with empathy can help build trust between a leader and subordinate.
In order to listen effectively, Army leaders must be able to understand both verbal and nonverbal communication. They must be able to understand the content of what is being said as well as the feeling. Additionally, Army leaders must be aware of the time, place, and situation. All of these factors can affect how a message is communicated and received.
It is also important for Army leaders to provide feedback when listening. This shows that they are paying attention and helps to ensure that the speaker feels heard. Feedback can be verbal or nonverbal. For example, a leader may nod their head or say “yes” to indicate that they are following along with the conversation.
Army leaders must also be able to listen in order to learn. They should be open to new ideas and willing to learn from others. Additionally, Army leaders should be able to share information and experiences in order to help others learn.
Army leaders must model effective listening in order to set the example for subordinates. They should create an environment where subordinates feel comfortable sharing information and ideas. Additionally, Army leaders should provide feedback and encourage questions.
Effective listening is essential for Army leaders at all levels. It is important for building trust, understanding communication, and learning from others. Army leaders must be aware of the Army values, the time, place, and situation, and their own nonverbal communication in order to listen effectively.
