Unlock the power of active listening! In this episode, Lauren Marie reveals practical techniques to fully engage, paraphrase, ask clarifying questions, and build trust—turning feedback into actionable leadership growth.

Welcome back to the Integrated Leader Podcast with Lauren Marie! In this episode, we shift our focus to active listening—the essential skill that transforms feedback into real growth. Active listening is more than just hearing words; it’s about fully engaging with your speaker to understand both the explicit and implicit messages behind their words.

Lauren dives into practical techniques for active listening:

• Engage Fully: Maintain eye contact and open body language.

• Paraphrase & Summarize: Repeat what you’ve heard in your own words to confirm understanding.

• Ask Clarifying Questions: Dig deeper if something isn’t clear to avoid misunderstandings.

• Stay Present: Resist the urge to prepare your response and focus on truly hearing the speaker.

Drawing on insights from the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Lauren explains how these practices not only build trust but also empower your team by creating a safe space for honest communication. Tune in to learn how to overcome common barriers, like distractions and internal rebuttals, and transform every conversation into an opportunity for leadership growth.

Challenge yourself this week: In every conversation, pause, listen deeply, and paraphrase the main points back. Notice how it changes the dynamic and strengthens your relationships.

Stay tuned for our next episode where we’ll explore how to process feedback and turn it into actionable steps. Until then, keep listening deeply and leading with intention!