There are many different types of leadership. However, whether you are a vocal leader or you lead by example, you must learn how to listen properly. Your employees should feel as if their opinions and perspectives are being heard. This will make them more likely to share information, which, in turn, can help your company achieve its goals and solve problems.

Unfortunately, not all kinds of listening are positive. To be the ideal leader for your company, you should avoid the below listening practices.

1. Assumptive Listening

It is easy to fall into the trap of assumptive listening. You may assume what your employee is thinking instead of actually paying attention to what he is telling you. You might even try to say what you believe the employee will state in order to hurry the conversation along.

Instead, you must set aside your past history or experiences with the employee. Pay full attention to the employee’s message and give him time to express his entire thoughts before responding.

2. Affirmative Listening

Too often, business owners want their opinions to be validated and acknowledged. They thus engage in affirmative listening and only focus on those who agree with them. However, proper leadership involves paying attention to many other points of view. This may be difficult at times, but it could save your business from making a major mistake.

3. Authoritative Listening

As with affirmative listening, authoritative listening involves a refusal to accept alternative solutions. The authoritative listener believes that an employee cannot figure out a task on his own. This listener then attempts to control the situation by telling the employee what he “should” do. While this type of listening will give you the outcome that you want, that outcome may not be what is best for the company.

4. Evaluative Listening

This type of listener selectively evaluates the employee’s comments from the listener’s own perspective. This often leads to the two individuals continuously countering each other’s arguments instead of truly understanding the opposing side.

5. Judgmental Listening

A judgmental listener will disagree with or condemn whatever the other person says. If you fall into this habit, your employees will get tired of the constant criticism and shut down completely. They will stop sharing their valuable perspectives that could help your company grow.

Listening to your employees improperly is almost as damaging as failing to listen to them at all. By avoiding the above listening mistakes, you can improve your leadership skills.