Keys to Effective Listening

Being an effective listener is always beneficial in a business setting. We live in a high-tech world where proper communication is more important than ever to the huge amount of information being shared. Being a  “genuine” listener is becoming a thing of the past, as people seem to not want to take the time to actively engage in conversions in the workplace.

Effective listening has many benefits such as quicker conflict resolution, less communication errors, more accurate transfer of ideas and in turn less wasted time. In short, being a great listener is paramount when it comes to building relationships whether at work or a home.

Making eye contact is arguably one of the most important things to do when listening. Not only does it show the speaker respect but it also conveys confidence. There’s nothing worse than meeting someone who is ether too shy/rude to look you in the eyes during a conversation.

This must be done naturally however; there is no need to hold eye contact for an uncomfortable amount of time but it should feel “natural” and you should be relaxed. By given your full attention you also put the speaker at ease, which also improves effective communication. Regardless of who the speaker is, try not to be biased or get distracted by your emotions.

Keeping an open mind allows for the best possible transfer of ideas; try to not jump to conclusions. Bare in mind, everyone generally does the best they can to express themselves with varying degrees of success. Even if someone is slower at getting to the “point” than you would like it’s important to let them there on their own.

Put yourself in to the speaker’s shoes; if you don’t agree with them, try to understand where they are coming from. Listen to the words and do your best to best grasp the concepts being spoken. Whatever you do, don’t interrupt and don’t “impose your beliefs”. There is a difference between giving feedback and being rude.

If you have any questions or concerns wait for the speaker to pause then ask questions or for clarification. Quickly summarizing what has being said helps you stay on the same page and eliminate any potential miscommunication. By giving regular feedback you let the speaker know that you’re engaged in the conversation.

Lastly, pay attention to non-verbal cues. Is the person bored, annoyed, angry, excited, etc… Body language is often the best indicator of someone’s true feelings.

In a business setting effective listening cannot be emphasized enough. It is key to improved productivity and less communication related errors. The bottom line is that everyone, whether at home or at work, can benefits from taking the time to improve their listening skills. 

Jonathan Proulx-Jones