Are you a good listener?

Posted by: Claudia Raab in Untagged  on Jun 01, 2009 Print PDF

Would you like us to reveal a secret? Here we go: It's a myth that having excellent communication skills only implies being able to speak brilliantly in public. Having excellent listening skills is equally important.

Here are some tips to devolop better and effective listening skills:

  1. Ask questions and repeat what has just been told to you. If someone tells you a story or provides you with important information repeat what they have said to be absolutely sure you understood their message correctly and also because if you repeat it you can remember it more easily.
  2. Take notes! Write down what you have been told - preferably shortly after your conversation! You'll be amazed how much you'll forget without having it written in black and white. You'll also impress others with your knowledge who will not remember as much as you in a couple of days or weeks or months to come.
  3. During your conversation maintain eye contact. I always tell my coachees "Eyes are the windows to the soul". Finding the "soul" of the person you are talking to will make it easy for you to connect and establish rapport with that person and vice versa.  Maintaining eye contact will convince them you are really interested in what they say and will help you keeping focused on the person who talks to you which is utterly important for an excellent outcome.
  4. Lean slightly forward when you are seated. This will also signal you are interested and helps you concentrate on your conversation partner at the same time.
  5. Eliminate distraction. Dedicate your time and yourself to the person who is talking and show authentic interest in it. Turn your mobile phone off. Multi tasking is no no when it comes to a listening. I'm convinced you are great at multi tasking but it's simply not on the agenda when you should be listening to another person that is face-to-face with you.
  6. Practise your listening skills. Start focusing on improving you listening skills today in any conversation you may have: With your colleague, the post man, your daughter, etc. Every conversation counts and will prepare you for important conversations.