Listening is more than hearing words. In difficult workplace conversations, it means checking what you understood, noticing what matters beneath the surface, and considering what another person may see, know, or risk that you do not. These three practices—receive the meaning, receive what matters, and listen beyond your own frame—help leaders and teams strengthen understanding, improve communication, and reduce preventable conflict.

Communication is essential in the workplace, and one of the keys to successful communication is active listening. When we listen...