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You've probably already discovered that one of the key tools in your leadership toolbox is understanding those around you. As a trio member, this skill gains even more importance as you cooperate with other trio members, area and division directors, clubs, and members. 

 

Active listening is one of the most important things you can do to build trust relationships with your team, identify challenges facing your district's clubs and members, and seek strategies to best support the district mission.  Active listening isn't just about hearing what people say, it's about conscious attention as you listen to best understand. How can you make that happen?

 

1. Be AVAILABLE to listen. It's great to say you want to be an active listener, and your intentions might be the best imaginable. That also means there needs to be a way for people to get to you so you can listen. Do you want to have a calendar app for them to choose a convenient time or should they fill out a form with a few suggestions? Whatever method you choose, you'll want it to be easy to find on your district's site or social media channels and checking it regularly (at least daily) will be a wise choice. By making yourself available to listen and understand what's on the mind of those in your district, you'll be aware of situations before they become hard to manage and will reinforce with members and other leaders that you're all in this together.

 

2. Be ATTENTIVE to what people say. That doesn't just mean listening closely to their words, it also means paying attention to their body language, and to what they're saying between the lines. If another leader has directed them to you for a conversation, this might be a source of some background - or you could simply invite your conversation partner to note the topic of your chat when reserving a time to speak with you. Between your observations of the conversation and the other person, you'll have a great chance to listen to understand their perspective, while letting them know you're interested in what they have to say.

 

3. Be ACTIVE in response to member concerns. Members share their thoughts with you out of trust and respect. Acting on these concerns is one of the ways you can continue to earn that trust and respect. This doesn't mean you simply do whatever is asked of you - sometimes, addressing concerns simply means pointing the member to an appropriate channel for information or explaining how something works. At other times, this might involve connecting the member to another contact or offering encouragement to solve a problem, or other actions. Whatever the response needed, your action in response to a conversation demonstrates the results active listening.

 

Best of all, as a leader consistently demonstrating active listening, you set a strong example of Toastmasters values, and give yourself the ability to discern and address any challenges before they grow to something more difficult.

 

District leadership is an incredibly rewarding journey! By keeping active listening as one of your primary resources, you'll build strong relationships with fellow leaders and members alike, and some of these conversations may even begin to grow new leaders. Insight into the issues that matter to your district's members is valuable as you make decisions to best achieve the district mission.