Listening is hard work! Becoming a better listener means recognizing barriers that impede better listening and actively using good listening strategies.
We may not listen well when the speaker is not talking loudly enough or has distracting mannerisms or appearance. Loud noises, interruptions, and even room temperature can also cause us to not listen well.
Often when we’re listening, we’re also dreaming, judging, filtering, placating, sparring, or mind reading.
A good exercise to raise your own awareness of these blocks is to write a list of people with whom you regularly interact and identify what might be getting in the way. An example could be a customer who always asks the same question every time they come in. Perhaps the block is the customer doesn’t understand the answer the way you’re saying it. Is there another way you can give the answer?
The keys to active listening are:
- When the other person starts talking, be quiet
- Don't interrupt, wait till they’re finished
- Refrain from judging or criticizing
- Take notes, if appropriate
- Have eye contact
- Listen for overtones
- Limit your own talking
- Think like the other person
- Ask questions
- Face the person with an open, relaxed posture
- Concentrate
- Prepare (are there some blocks I’m putting up?)
The above suggestions are from the City of Houston sponsored webinar, “Becoming a Better Listener.”
JO
