Active Listening Self-Assessment Tool

Active Listening Self-Assessment Tool

Five weeks ago, I started my series on active listening. This is the final post in this series. If you’re just joining and would like to binge read the whole thing, it started on September 23rd. Today I’m posting an Active Listening Self-Assessment Tool I created.

Instructions:
Rate yourself honestly on a scale from 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Consistently) for each statement. Total your score at the end and review your results.

🧠 Cognitive Presence

1. I give full attention when others speak (no multitasking, distractions, or interruptions). _____

2. I listen without immediately forming a response or rebuttal in my head. _____

3. I pick up on inconsistencies, missing details, or gaps in stories. _____

4. I ask open-ended questions that invite deeper insight and clarity. _____

Subtotal: ____ / 20

💬 Reflective Responsiveness

1. I paraphrase or summarize key points to confirm understanding. _____

2. I reflect not just what someone is saying, but how they’re feeling. _____

3. I resist the urge to “solve” too quickly and allow space for full expression. _____

4. I seek permission before offering feedback or advice. _____

Subtotal: ____ / 20

💓 Emotional Attunement

1. I’m aware of emotional cues like tone, body language, and energy shifts. _____

2. I validate others' emotions without judgment or minimizing. _____

3. I adapt my response based on the emotional state of the speaker. _____

4. I stay calm and grounded even when the conversation is difficult or charged. _____

Subtotal: ____ / 20

🧽 Strategic Listening

1. I notice themes and patterns that emerge across different conversations. _____

2. I actively listen to junior voices, dissenting perspectives, and quieter team members. _____

3. I use silence and pauses intentionally to allow for deeper reflection. _____

4. I listen across systems—connecting what I hear to broader organizational dynamics. _____

Subtotal: ____ / 20

✅ Scoring Guide

• 64–80: 🟢 Strategic Listener
  You practice high-level, emotionally intelligent listening that supports trust, insight, and alignment. Keep modeling and mentoring others.

• 48–63: 🟡 Skilled but Inconsistent
  You demonstrate strong listening habits, but there may be gaps under stress, time pressure, or across power dynamics. Identify one key area to improve consistently.

• 32–47: 🟠 Developing Listener
  You may be listening more to respond than to understand. Consider structured listening training or real-time feedback loops from your team.

• Below 32: 🔴 Critical Growth Area
  Listening may be unintentionally eroding trust or clarity. Prioritize coaching, shadowing, and deliberate practice to rewire your leadership default.

🧠 💬 💓 🧽 Advanced Awareness Option

Self-awareness is essential. Feedback is also critical. Actively soliciting and listening to feedback helps us learn and grow.

An advanced option is to distribute this assessment to your team and ask them to complete it on your active listening. Compare the feedback to how you assessed yourself.

This activity requires trust – your team needs to trust you will listen, not retaliate or become defensive.

How will to engage your team to do this with trust?

What did you learn with this advanced step?

How will you incorporate what you learned into your mindset and behaviors?

If you’d like to discuss this one on one with me, schedule a time.