ACTIVE LISTENING: IS IT THE FORGOTTEN DIMENSION IN MANAGERIAL COMMUNICATION?

Abstract

The study seeks to obtain an understanding of managers’ perceptions of active listening as a management tool and to explore how they experience their own execution of the phenomenon. Qualitative research was conducted with eight line managers, from eight different organizations, and a thematic analysis was performed. Findings reveal positive attitudes towards active listening as an important management tool. Besides organizational benefit, the managers experienced increased sense of well-being at work. For them, active listening demonstrates respect and focused attention. Fairly good knowledge was indicated in preparing and sensing techniques of the active listening process. The respondents were less skilled and less confident regarding the responding stage.