How Active Listening Builds Trust and Transforms Leadership
Leadership coach Felecia Williams explores how active listening transforms leadership
Introduction: The Power of Listening in Leadership
In this episode of The Soul Career® Podcast, leadership coach Felecia Williams challenges one of the biggest misconceptions about leadership – that it’s all about speaking, directing, or commanding a room.
What if one of the most powerful leadership skills isn’t speaking at all… but listening?
Through stories, personal insights, and practical tools, Felecia unpacks how listening can reshape relationships at work, build lasting trust, and create space for genuine collaboration and growth.
Why Listening Matters More Than You Think
According to Felecia, poor listening is one of the silent killers of trust in organizations. When leaders fail to listen, they don’t just miss key details, they miss connections.
“Listening helps to build trust,” she shares, “and trust is what allows teams and organizations to truly thrive.”
When leaders don’t listen, it weakens relationships, creates conflict, and blocks opportunities for growth. People begin to feel unheard, undervalued, and disconnected — the very opposite of what great leadership is meant to create.
The Everyday Listening Challenge
Felecia paints a relatable picture: a group of friends, all leaders in their own right, talking over each other about their professional struggles. It made her realize how often we don’t really listen — even when we think we are.
She identifies three common traps that keep leaders from being effective listeners:
- Thinking about what to say next.
We plan our response while the other person is still talking, missing most of what they’re saying. - Getting too excited to respond.
Our enthusiasm to share our perspective can drown out someone else’s voice. - Assuming we already know.
We finish sentences for others or jump to conclusions, often missing the real meaning behind their words.
These habits may seem harmless, but over time, they erode psychological safety and trust — the very foundation of effective leadership.
How Listening Builds Trust and Connection
When leaders truly listen, people feel seen and valued.
Listening creates space for collaboration, innovation, and mutual respect. It signals that you care not just about results, but about the people achieving them.
As Felecia explains, “You don’t need to be remembered because you talked a lot. You want to be remembered because of how you made others feel.”
That’s the heart of leadership through listening, it transforms how teams work together and how leaders influence without forcing control.
Three Tools to Become a Better Listener
Felecia offers three practical tools leaders can use to strengthen their listening skills immediately:
- Be fully present.
Don’t just occupy space in the room. Pay attention to both words and tone. Resist the urge to craft your response mid-conversation. - Show that you’re tuned in.
Use short, affirming phrases like “That sounds tough” or “I get what you’re saying.” It shows engagement and empathy without interruption. - Ask clarifying questions.
Try gentle follow-ups like “What happened next?” or “How did that make you feel?” It demonstrates genuine curiosity and helps deepen the connection.
These small, intentional acts communicate care, the foundation of real trust.
For the Talkers in the Room
As a self-described “talker,” Felecia reminds us that even the most passionate leaders can benefit from more silence.
“If you notice your voice is the loudest in the room, pause,” she says. “Give others the chance to share. Sometimes, listening is the most powerful gift you can offer.”
It’s not about speaking less, it’s about creating more space for others to speak.
Listen to the Full Episode
🎧 Spotify: Listen here
📺 YouTube: Watch here
🍎 Apple Podcasts: Listen here
Ready for Your Own Career Transformation?
If Felecia’s insights struck a chord with you, and you’re feeling ready to step away from a career that no longer fits, we invite you to book a free coaching consultation with Soul Career®.
If this episode inspired you to lead with more empathy and intention, we invite you to take the next step.
👉 Book a free coaching consultation with Soul Career®
Whether you’re seeking executive coaching, career development, or leadership training, our programs are designed to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and soul.
