Why Active Listening is Crucial in Management

In leadership, listening isn’t a privilege we save for calm days, it’s a skill we have to master in order to catch the small details and respond in real time. As a conductor, listening is one of the most important parts of my job. I have to focus on every instrument, every section, to be able to constantly adjust and react without stopping the music. If something isn’t working the way I’d like it to, I need to respond immediately, usually without speaking. And if I hear something I like a lot, I need to amplify it on the spot. The same level of active listening applies to all types of management.

Here’s what conducting has taught me about how listening and leadership:

Listening Builds Trust

When I’m conducting, I’m not just giving instructions, I’m listening closely to the different parts as well as the orchestra as a whole. If I hear a section playing the way I want them to, I encourage more of it through my gestures. Orchestra musicians are trained to build a relationship with the conductor with hardly any words and slowly we begin to trust each other on a deeper level.

In leadership, the same principle applies. When your team sees that you’re actively listening and responding to their input, you gradually enhance your relationship and build trust. Listening has to be an active decision for you to really be able to learn about your team and understand them.

Listening Reveals What’s Off

During rehearsal things happen quickly and it’s easy to miss important details. That’s why I need to make sure I’m always actively listening, even if it seems the the orchestra is playing quite well. Those tiny details make a big difference in the overall performance.

As a leader, you need to pick up on the things that aren’t being said directly. It might be a hesitation in responding or tension in a meeting. Just like in conducting, you have to address these issues immediately, because they usually suggest we’ve missed something bigger.

Listening Encourages Innovation

When my musicians play beautifully, my job is to show them how much I love their palying and how much I appreciate their work. Without stopping the music, I use my gestures to show them to keep going, to lean into that moment. In rehearsals, I’ll amplify that detail even more to make sure it stands out in the performance.

When you listen to your team’s ideas and they bring something new to the table, it’s your job to encourage more of it. The best leaders aren’t the ones who always give the ideas, they’re the ones who create space for their teams to bring out their own personalities and creativity.

Listening Creates Connection

On the podium, I’m in constant connection with the orchestra. I try to look every musician in the eye, whether it’s a section leader or in the furthest chair. That two-way connection is what makes the music work and it’s not an job easy to maintain it.

Listening is an ongoing process. It’s about maintaining a strong connection with your team, making sure they know you’re always tuned in to what they’re doing. When people feel heard, they’re more likely to stay engaged and give their best.

Listening Improves Decision Making

As a conductor, I’m always adjusting based on what I hear. During rehearsal and in the concert, I have to decide and act in the moment, which is usually a split-second long. it’s about using what I hear to make better decisions on the fly.

In leadership, listening strengthens your decision-making. By constantly paying attention and asking your team for real feedback, you gather more information and make smarter choices.

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Leadership and conducting both require active listening, catching the small details, reacting quickly, and adjusting in real time. Whether you’re leading an orchestra or a team, listening builds trust, creates connection, and improves decision-making.

Next time you’re in a meeting, watch and listen closely. What’s being said? What’s not being said? By reacting in real time, just like on the podium, you’ll strengthen your leadership and create better results.