Listening Skills - Are you a good listener?
January 22nd, 2008 by postmaster
Good listening plays a very important role in effective communication. Listening is more than just hearing. It means providing support, trying to understand the person. Listening is a choice hearing simply happens.Quote from dictionary.com ” To listen is to try to hear; to hear is simply to perceive with the ear”
Why to be a good listener?
Good listening skills help in..
1) Improving communication which there by will help in reducing stress.
2) Being a better person.
3) Getting close with your family.
4) Building trust and friendship.
5) Improving your productivity at work.
How to be a good listener?
1) Make eye contact with the person. Eye contact shows the person that you are genuinely interested in what they are saying.
2) Keep the focus on them , this makes the person feel cared about.
3) Do not interrupt when the person is talking.
4) Listen attentively.
5) Watch your body language. It says more than words. Do not cross / fold your arms or legs, it sends a signal that you are not interested in listening. Maintain an open position.
6) Lean a little towards the speaker, this shows that you are interested. Leaning away from the speaker displays ignorance.
7) Do not judge the speaker instead LISTEN.
This is nice. The most important thing of all in this is “Not to judge the speaker”. You lose the idea of listening right away when you do that.