Listening to understand is an important communication skill, especially for leaders. The most successful leaders are those who can engage in effective listening and demonstrate strong emotional intelligence. By doing so, they are better equipped to address conflict, accept criticism, navigate relationships, and understand different perspectives. Listening to understand includes being closely attuned to the speaker’s body language and non-verbal behaviors to understand not only what is being said, but also the emotions and values underlying the facts. Lastly, listening in leadership is especially important because it helps leaders build trust and earn respect from their coworkers and teammates.