Need Effective Listening Skills?

The Sure Fire Benefits of Careful Listening

Effective listening is a smart and useful skill to have. Are you a good listener? There is a reason why we have two ears and one mouth and those who master the art of listening have an edge over the rest of us. It really surprises me how many people do not take the time to listen. If you do not believe me, try a little experiment. All you need to do is really pay attention to conversations around you - including your own. When I tried this experiment, I noticed that many people were not listening, instead they were waiting their turn to speak. I noticed people cutting off other people's sentences, being distracted by what was going on around them, and attempting to hurry the speaker by finishing their sentences for them.

For many reasons, effective listening can be challenging. For instance, in today's fast-paced society listening requires us to be quiet, to be still, and pay close attention to the person talking. The effort to develop good listening skills are worth it.

Following are several notable benefits:

• People show appreciation when you give them your undivided attention. They will become friendlier and perceive you as a more open and approachable people.
• Effective listening shifts the focus from you to the other person. You will become more in tune with other peoples' thoughts and feelings. People will perceive you as a person who cares which increases your personal credibility.
• People will see you as a person with a positive image who is likable and open-minded.
• Listening exposes you to peoples' point of view, which allows you to discover opportunities to help. when you hear what other people need, you can tap into your problem-solving skills while improving your people skills.
• If you own a business and can learn to listen to your customers' wants and needs and deliver - you should be very successful. If you're a parent and learn how to listen to your children, then you'll develop a closer relationships with them. Additionally, effective listening will positively impact your career.

1. Start by projecting a positive image. Let the person know that you are listening. Make eye contact, keep your posture attentive, pay attention, and let the person finish each sentence. Do not interrupt and pause for a second when it's your turn to talk.

2. Ask clarifying questions to make sure that you are hearing the message the person is trying to convey. When you ask questions, it's a way to let the person know that you're not only listening, but that they matter.

3. Keep an open mind. Nobody is suggesting that you have to agree with everything you are listening to. I've discovered listening to others helps expand my perspective and it also helps me form compelling arguments when I understand where the other person is coming from.

4. Listen to hear the message. Focus on what the person is saying. What ideas, thoughts, and feelings are they trying to get across?

5. Watch for non-verbal clues. Many times, it's what the person does not say that tells the story. Listen to a person's tone of voice and watch body language. What signals are you picking up?

No matter how you look at it, effective listening is powerful. So perk up your ears and be prepared to hear things you've never heard before.