Mastering Active Listening: Enhancing Communication In Business
PeopleTek News, Monday, September 23rd, 2024
Listening is a skill that requires effort and impacts relationships. Any disagreement with that statement?
Here are some tips for improving our listening skills:
- No interrupting
- No multi-tasking
- Be aware of body language, expressions, and tone
- Listen for underlying meanings
- Be open to differing views
- Retain eye contact (this helps with attention levels)
- Don't suggest words or finish sentences when a pause occurs
- Don't solve or judge
- Ask probing questions to obtain clarity and recap what you think you've heard
We also need to be aware of when and why we 'tune out'. Sometimes it's the timing of the conversation, perhaps the topic, and it can even be the person delivering the message.