Common Pitfalls of Leadership Listening

Three weeks ago, I started my series on active listening. Today I’m posting common pitfalls of leadership listening.

• Premature Problem-Solving
  Leaders are wired to fix things, but premature solutioning can signal disinterest or control. Often, people don’t want immediate answers—they want to be understood. Solutions are better co-created once clarity and context are fully established.

• Listening Through Bias
  Confirmation bias, status bias, and affinity bias can all distort what a leader hears. Cultivating metacognitive awareness — e.g., thinking about your thinking — helps leaders filter less through ego and more through curiosity and growth.

What other pitfalls might there be?

Next week, I’ll post on operationalizing listening in your leadership practice.