5 Simple Tips to Becoming a Better Listener
September 2, 2006 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Whether in your business life, or your personal life, listening is a critical skill to acquire.
You can find lots of books out there on the topic of listening. But don’t wait until you finish reading a book to start working on your listening skills. Start today!
Here are five tips that will make a difference, and that you can implement immediately:
Make eye contact. It’s the first step, and is a signal to the other person that you really are listening. It’s much harder to tune out and let your eyes glaze over if you are focused on the other person. It also builds trust.
Pay attention. Boy, does this sound basic, but how many times have we been guilty of tuning out. Asking others to repeat themselves is just one sign that you aren’t really paying attention.
Don’t interrupt. Be other focused when you are listening, instead of focusing on yourself and what you have to say. Besides that, interrupting is just plain rude.
Avoid fidgeting. Playing with your hair, bouncing your foot, or jiggling change in your pocket sends the message that you’re bored and not interested in listening.
Echo the message. At appropriate intervals, echo back the information that you are receiving to make sure you that you understand the message. It’s a sign that you are committed to, and involved with, the conversation.
To read more about the art and skill of listening, I’d recommend:
- Listening by Madelyn Burley-Allen
- Effective Listening Skills by Art James & Dennis Kratz
- Effective Listening and Feedback (downloadable)
- Listening Leaders by Lyman K. Steil & Richard K. Bommelie
Photo credit: flickr
It’s one thing to listen, the other thing to know is, what to do with the information you heard.
What are the essentials? What was the punter telling me? How do I interpret and ask the pertinent questions? this is what we all need to learn. How to comprehend the information.