Almost everyone believes they listen well. As a result, few
people believe that improving their listening skills is necessary. However,
only a few of us are capable of listening successfully. It isn't due to the
difficulty of listening adequately. The majority of us have never formed the
habits that allow us to listen effectively.
According to research, excellent listening results in you
getting more information from the people you manage, increasing others' trust
in you, reducing conflict, better understanding how to encourage others, and
inspiring a higher degree of commitment in the people you manage.
Active listening is concentrating on actually hearing and
comprehending what the speaker is saying. It necessitates the ability to
suspend judgment until you have fully comprehended, the skill to empathize so
that the speaker feels free to express themselves fully, and a good dosage of
willpower to fight the want to revert to your old habits of talking and
listening.
Here are a few pointers to help you improve your active
listening skills:
● Focus whole-heartedly. The
idea is to eliminate distractions from your environment so that you can focus
entirely on the speaker. Consider turning your phone off. It will assist you in
maintaining your concentration and active listening as a listener.
● Allow the other person to speak
first. Please don't interrupt. Positive body language, good eye
contact with nodding, and periodic reinforcements can all help to encourage the
speaker. If you must interrupt, accept responsibility for resuming the
conversation.
● Knowledge is a powerful tool. In
reality, in today's information-driven society, how much you know matters more
than how much money you have or practically anything else in terms of long-term
success. When someone speaks, he or she is giving up information—often more
than they intended. When someone listens, they are receiving information.
● You won't say anything you'll come
to regret afterward. You can always share information tomorrow if
you don't share it today. In contrast, if you share information now, you will
never be able to take it back.
● While the other person is speaking,
do not prepare your response. Poor listeners usually put their
demands and interests ahead of others. Instead, strive to be entirely receptive
to what the other person has to offer. Because we all have an inbuilt
predisposition toward our interests, this is challenging. One simple trick is
to hesitate just before saying something and instead maintain the quiet for a
few extra beats. The person will almost always continue to discuss their
circumstance or problem.
● Listen first to understand, then
listen again to hear what's "between" the lines. You're
not simply getting data; you're also attempting to comprehend why what's being
said is being stated. Then respond based on what you've learned. You might
realize that your reaction differs from what you had planned after you have
carefully listened. Don't make a snap decision before you've actively listened.
● People will pay attention
to you if you speak up-Who do you pay more attention to someone who
never stops talking or someone who speaks only once in a while? The logic of
supply and demand holds in this case as well: if you continuously share your
thoughts, no one will seek them out. Your words will have more weight if you
just speak what you're thinking on rare occasions, or if you only make a point
once rather than repeatedly.
● The one performing the speaking
will feel heard and cared about. The majority of people aspire to
be heard more often in their lives. So, rather than speaking, you are
contributing something useful to the one who is speaking by listening.
Especially if you are truly paying attention to what the other person is saying
and not distracted by something else. That gift will be greatly appreciated by
the speaker, and you will have established a bond. He or she will feel
validated and understood. It's a strong relationship-building tool, as well as
a strong sales tool.
It takes fortitude to set aside your prejudices or biases and
follow the speaker's lead without interjecting to contradict or divert the
conversation in your preferred direction. It asks you to empathize with the
speaker, to put yourself in their shoes, and to walk in their footsteps. It
also necessitates that you be open to the prospect that hearing will transform
you, your perspective, and your answer.
Also, Read, Every obstacle is an opportunity.
0 Comments