Why Active Listening is a CFO’s Most Powerful Tool

Active Listening: The Cornerstone of Leadership

As reported by CFO.com, veteran NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcaster Michael Barkann recently shared his insights at an AchieveNEXT leadership webinar, emphasizing active listening as a critical, yet often overlooked, leadership skill for executives, including CFOs. Barkann, drawing from decades of interviewing athletes and coaches, highlighted that the most effective communicators prioritize understanding before responding. His core message to business leaders, delivered to an audience that included members of the midmarket-focused CFO Alliance, was simple: “Listen to understand and not to talk.” He urged attendees to resist the urge to formulate their next response while others are speaking, a common pitfall that undermines genuine communication.

Preparation Meets Performance

Barkann further connected active listening to the broader theme of preparedness, a principle he has observed consistently throughout his broadcasting career. He drew parallels between high-stakes moments in sports and the critical decisions faced by executives, such as managing stakeholder relationships, navigating financing, or executing M&A deals. Barkann stressed that success in these high-pressure situations is not born from improvisation but from meticulous preparation cultivated over time.

• Actively listen to understand, not just to respond.

• Resist distractions and be present in conversations.

• Embrace preparation as a key to peak performance in critical business moments.