In the overwhelm of today’s workplace, where emails fly like confetti and meetings blend into one another, a foundational skill often gets lost in the ambient noise: listening. We’ve become adept at responding, reacting, and multitasking, but genuinely listening fully to another person’s thoughts and ideas is becoming increasingly rare.

Listening, often underestimated, is a skill that goes far beyond hearing words. Especially for top leaders, it’s a discipline that can make or break success. Let’s delve into the six most common pitfalls that top leaders may encounter if they overlook this essential skill.