Shumaker Chamber University: Listening’s Role in Effective Leadership

By Evan Samson, Integrated Marketing Communications Officer

Yesterday, I and some of my DMSI International colleagues (Iylin Flock, Menchie Calesa, Ada Joy Agovida, and Patrick Alexander) attended The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s seminar “Shumaker Chamber University: Listening’s Role in Effective Leadership” which presented by Dawn Y. Graber.

After attending the seminar, I was able to identify what it means to listen effectively; it was a great and insightful experience. Dawn was very knowledgeable and engaging.

The context of the conversation, the concept that is being discussed, and the speaker’s body language are all important aspects of listening. You must be able to listen effectively to understand what’s being said and how best to respond.

During our small group sessions, we used case studies illustrating the importance effective listening can make in building a healthy culture of engaged employees resulting in greater success. This showed us how important it is for leaders to listen well to build healthy cultures where employees feel safe enough to speak up about their ideas or any problems they’re experiencing.

I learned that it’s important for me to broaden my listening skills so that I can adapt better and improve my relationships with others.