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How can you improve your own listening skills? First, try to become
aware of your own problems with listening and then consciously try
to overcome them.
Among the biggest errors we can make when someone
is trying to tell us something is interrupting and finishing a
speaker's
sentence. To break the habit, try apologizing every time you interrupt.
That'll make you think twice before you do it again.
Also, give the speaker the sense that you have plenty of time to
hear him out. Looking at your watch is a big no-no. Instead, let
the speaker finish not only with their initial statements, but with
any additional statements. Often, people tend to think out loud.
Sometimes only their last statements really start to crystallize
their true meaning.
Other tried and true methods from CareerJournal.com include:
- Asking questions. Far from offending
the speaker (as if you're trying to find fault), probing to fully understand
what a speaker is saying is taken as a sign that you're listening
and are really interested. It demonstrates respect.
- Slow down your thought process. People
can think three to four times as quickly as we can speak. That's
a major reason why we often let our minds wander while people
are speaking and miss important information. Instead, keep analyzing
what a speaker is saying by mentally summarizing his information
and weighing the facts.
- Don't get caught up in the speaker's
delivery. Even
if the person has a strong accent, a lisp or is disorganized in
their thinking, try to stay focused on their message.
- Avoid Distractions. Do sirens, a ringing telephone or
just a person passing through the hallway distract you? Then position
yourself in your office or cubicle to avoid as many distractions
as possible and concentrate even harder on what the speaker is
saying.
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