ABSTRACT
Accurate information is an essential component of effective management. In order to get the necessary information, managers need lots of help, particularly from their employees, and the best way to get that help is to listen to them. By listening we mean, at the very least, hearing information, analyzing it, recalling it at a later time, drawing conclusions from it, and then doing something about it. Listening is an important part of the communication process. When managers stop listening, employees often respond by not communicating, leading to great difficulty for the organization by shutting down internal communications. Furthermore, as stated by Boss (1989), “Leaders must be willing to listen to their people, both intellectually and emotionally, and to respond to what they hear. Some problems require nothing more than a listening ear. Others necessitate immediate action. Whatever the need, it is important that the leader give people what they need to grow and develop.”
