Listening Skills

Listening is hearing and understanding the message from speakers perspective.

In order to be a good manager you need to know how to listen well. What is listening?. Listening is not hearing. Just sitting across and hearing everything that other person is saying is not hearing. Hearing alone does not lead to understanding the message.

One can think a lot faster than anyone can speak therefore you are prone to distraction when someone is speaking. Our mind frequently wanders when someone is speaking to us. One way to say present is to create mental image of what is being told to us.

Active Listening is a listening skills to help us to be better listeners.

Listen with intensity. Concentrate, focus your energy in understanding the message.

Listen with empathy. Try to understand emotions and feelings, depth of what another person is saying. Put yourselves in their shoes. Don't try to color the message.

Acceptance of what we are hearing. Don't be evaluative and judgmental during the conversation. Listen as clearly as possible.

Taking responsibility for completeness. Do what is necessary to understand the speakers message. Try to observe and be aware of emotional context. Emotions and feelings are part of the message. Ask questions to assure understanding.

Tips:

  • Make eye contact.
  • Use non-verbal behavior to show interest. Nod, Smile.
  • Avoid distracting action. Don't doodle, make noise etc.
  • Paraphrase.
  • Don't interrupt/talk too much.
  • Confront your biases.

Watch following video where my notes comes from.

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