Dave Shah is the CEO of Wve Labs, a company that develops end-to-end software applications for startups and enterprise companies. He is also a professional kiteboarder and the was recently as a Forbes8 Mastermind. But how did he become so notable, considering that he is still so young? According to Shah, it was his business idea, together with effective entrepreneurship skills, that has brought him where he is today. He points out that two aspects helped him immensely to develop business relations with his stakeholders: effective communication and active listening.
Table of Contents
What is active listening?
Shah has learned about effective communication the hard way. Before starting Wve Labs, he approached his role model with the hope of joining his company. Not only did Shah get turned down, but the person he looked up to told him that hiring him would be a total waste of time. From that day, Shah wanted to overcome his weaknesses so that he could overcome them and become a leader in his own company.
Shah enrolled at the University of Southern California to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and that changed his life for the better. In his speeches, Shah often emphasizes the fact that entrepreneurs should focus more on their listening skills so that they can communicate with their audience better.
He advises entrepreneurs to pay undivided attention while listening to someone. They should maintain eye contact throughout the conversation so that the speaker knows that they are not talking to a wall. If the speaker sees that you are paying attention to what he says, then he would also reciprocate that attitude when you speak. You can rephrase what the speaker had just said to gain a deeper understanding of his thoughts and establish a better foundation for future conversations.
Importance of active listening
Throughout his career, Shah has tried to strengthen his company by explaining his business ideas to others. He thinks that you can gain experience in your entrepreneurship journey if you listen carefully to your stakeholders. It helps you make decisions that would eventually benefit your business. Shah adds that active listening reduces conflict and builds trust in a business organization. In fact, the reputation of your business depends on your listening skills.
He even gives examples of how active listening is essential in day to day activities and how it is crucial for any business. Suppose you are facing internet issues for the last couple of days. You call the service provider’s customer care team. The agent on the line keeps bombarding you with tons of questions instead of listening to your actual problem. Would you say that the agent is doing a good job? Probably not. You might eventually give up and want to shift to another service provider because of this poor experience.
Similarly, you need to follow the same rule for your business. Shah explains that if you don’t listen to the points of your stakeholders, you won’t be able to convince them to see the potential in your business. If you can’t persuade your stakeholders, your business may not grow as you had wanted to when you first started.
