I recently had an important videoconference with the board of directors of a ministry that I’ve been working with. I connected early, and the technology seemed to be working. But when the board members began talking, they all sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher. I heard voices, but they might as well have been saying “wah, wah, wah.” A few minutes later, several remote microphones were placed on the table, and the words instantly become clear. It turns out that all of the sound had been going through a single microphone on a computer that was 20 feet away. 

As a leader, you know it’s important to listen to others. But are you creating the right conditions so that you can hear their input? You may respond, “I’m open to input. I make myself available.” But is your availability like the single computer microphone that I encountered at the start of my call? It would have been ridiculous to ask each board member to walk up to the computer and lean into the microphone whenever they wanted to talk. Have you unintentionally created a similar dynamic?

Here are 3 questions to help you improve the quality of your listening:

• Are you inviting the right people to speak? The best input comes from a diversity of perspectives. If you’re surrounded by people who think just like you, or who always want to please you, then you probably need to set out a few more “microphones.” 
• Is your invitation genuine? Many people are reluctant to offer constructive criticism, either out of respect for the leader or fear of an adverse reaction. When asking for input, stress that you want complete and honest feedback. And then don’t get defensive when someone takes you at your word and offers a candid response. 
• Are you allowing enough time? People who feel rushed are less likely to speak. They may need time to process their thoughts. They may be waiting for someone else to go first. Or they may infer that a quick feedback step is just a facade for a decision that has already been made. 

In my videoconference, I quickly knew that there was a problem. In your case, the issues are likely to be more subtle. So use these questions to assess whether you need to pause long enough to add remote microphones. 

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