Listening with Intention: The Quiet Power of Leadership

There is a difference between hearing and listening. I have come to understand that. The more we lead, teach, and support others, the more important it becomes to pause and truly listen with intention. Not just to reply. Not to fix. But to understand.

When I enter a classroom or sit in a team meeting, I try to remind myself that listening isn’t just something we do with our ears. It’s something we do with our full presence. Our body language, our breath, our silence, it all speaks before we even say a word. And when others sense that we are fully present with them, something beautiful begins to unfold: trust.

Listening Builds Trust
Intentional listening communicates something powerful: You matter. Your voice matters. And when people feel heard, they feel safe to share more honestly. This builds stronger relationships in classrooms, teams, and leadership circles. According to research from Brownell (2012), active listening strengthens interpersonal connections and increases mutual understanding in professional settings. It turns out, being fully present is more than polite. It’s transformative.

Listening is Leadership’s Quiet Power
Leadership is not always about who talks the most or who has the final say. Leadership, at its core, is about influence. And influence often grows in quiet moments, the moments where we pause, reflect, and hold space for others. Listening is leadership's quiet power. It softens resistance. It deepens the connection. It makes room for growth.

In early childhood education, we talk a lot about developmental milestones. But sometimes, the real milestone is when a teacher pauses long enough to really hear what a child is trying to say. Or when a leader stops multitasking and turns their chair to fully face a staff member who needs support. These small acts of presence ripple outward.

A Simple Practice: Summarize Before Responding
This week, try using what I call a "listening lens." Before jumping into a reply, take a breath and reflect back what you heard. Even just saying, "What I hear you saying is..." can shift the tone of a conversation. It helps people feel seen, and it reminds us to slow down and respond instead of react. It’s a practice rooted in emotional intelligence (Goleman, 2006), and it fosters psychological safety, which every team needs.

Leading with COMP: Clarity, Openness, Mindfulness, and Presence
At SILWELL-C, we often talk about leading with COMP. Listening with intention is at the heart of this philosophy. It’s about creating space for others while staying grounded in your own calm. When we lead with COMP, we stop rushing to fix, and we start holding space to understand.

So today, and every day, let us lead a little more with our ears and a little less with our mouths. Let us offer the gift of attention, which in today’s world, is one of the rarest forms of generosity.

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References:

• Brownell, J. (2012). Listening: Attitudes, Principles, and Skills (5th ed.). Pearson.

• Goleman, D. (2006). Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships. Bantam Books.