Much like reading comprehension skills, listening skills require the listener to pay attention to what he/she is hearing and to comprehend the meaning of it. If one can understand what is being said to them, than that one has good listening skills.
What Are Listening Skills?
The most important factor in listening is your posture, your gestures, your facial expressions and your eye contact. You should not lose your eye contact, it is very important.
Your distance or personal space is also very important while listening. The ideal space is 3-5 feet. Always focus on the person who is speaking. If you avoid it, it will bring negative changes.
If a person is talking to you and your attention is some where else it's not good. Stop thinking while listening and concentrate what he is saying. Keep these points in your mind.
Be patient, have great control on your self.
Don't block communication. Listen first and then speak.
Empathize with the talker; put yourself into his or her shoes.
Don't get overly affected by the talkers look, dress, skin, color, sex or style.
Don't take detailed notes, given attentions to words as well.
After that decide that what you have to say avoid saying something unnecessary. Stop talking to your self while listening. Ask general questions. Ask for clarification.
So while listening always notice your body motion, your vocal qualities, space you are using, appearance and environment which includes body, voice, space and objects.
Your distance or personal space is also very important while listening. The ideal space is 3-5 feet. Always focus on the person who is speaking. If you avoid it, it will bring negative changes.
If a person is talking to you and your attention is some where else it's not good. Stop thinking while listening and concentrate what he is saying. Keep these points in your mind.
Be patient, have great control on your self.
Don't block communication. Listen first and then speak.
Empathize with the talker; put yourself into his or her shoes.
Don't get overly affected by the talkers look, dress, skin, color, sex or style.
Don't take detailed notes, given attentions to words as well.
After that decide that what you have to say avoid saying something unnecessary. Stop talking to your self while listening. Ask general questions. Ask for clarification.
So while listening always notice your body motion, your vocal qualities, space you are using, appearance and environment which includes body, voice, space and objects.
Listening is an extremely important and surprisingly difficult communication skill in business. Various studies show that business people spend from 45 to 65 percent of their time listening. You will need to be an effective listener for example when you talk about some brainstorming ideas, interviewing or being interviewed, appraising or being appraised for reviews, collecting data, talking on the telephone, resolving conflicts and attending meetings. Not only will you spend a lot of time listening, you will also stand to benefit from effective listening. You will be able to gather more detailed information when you need it for decision-making or problem-solving.
You will learn new ideas or concepts you may have never thought of by yourself. You will understand people better so you can react to employee or client needs perhaps even increase cooperation to enhance employee or customer relations. Listening is so important - why is it so difficult for most of us? One reason listening is hard is that there are various internal blocks to concentration. A major internal block stems from your ability to think so much faster than a speaker can possibly talk. The person to whom you are listening is probably talking at high speed.
You will learn new ideas or concepts you may have never thought of by yourself. You will understand people better so you can react to employee or client needs perhaps even increase cooperation to enhance employee or customer relations. Listening is so important - why is it so difficult for most of us? One reason listening is hard is that there are various internal blocks to concentration. A major internal block stems from your ability to think so much faster than a speaker can possibly talk. The person to whom you are listening is probably talking at high speed.
You can improve your listening skills by:-
Concentrate:- A person should be attentive and concentrate on what he is seeing or listening.
Be prepared:- This means if a person is attending a class or a conference, he should go prepared.
Accent the positive:- "If you have to do it, do it with a positive attitude" is a centrepiece of life.
Take notes:- Jot down ideas. Even incomplete sentences or single words will later be a memory jogger of what was said.
Curb the impulse to interrupt:- This suggestion applies to interviews, conferences, job instructions and meetings. Listen attentively until the speaker invites questions.
Listen to understand, not refute:- Respect the view point of those with whom you disagree. Try to understand the points they emphasize and why they have such feelings (trainings, background, etc.). Don't allow your personal biases and attitudes regarding the speakers or their views to influence your listening and their message.
Focus your attention:- Construct a mental outline of where the speaker is going. Listen for transitions and the progression of ideas.
Summarize and evaluate:- Restate in your own words, just what you think was said. You should also question evidence used and mentally test the validity of evidence in support of a proposition.
Concentrate:- A person should be attentive and concentrate on what he is seeing or listening.
Be prepared:- This means if a person is attending a class or a conference, he should go prepared.
Accent the positive:- "If you have to do it, do it with a positive attitude" is a centrepiece of life.
Take notes:- Jot down ideas. Even incomplete sentences or single words will later be a memory jogger of what was said.
Curb the impulse to interrupt:- This suggestion applies to interviews, conferences, job instructions and meetings. Listen attentively until the speaker invites questions.
Listen to understand, not refute:- Respect the view point of those with whom you disagree. Try to understand the points they emphasize and why they have such feelings (trainings, background, etc.). Don't allow your personal biases and attitudes regarding the speakers or their views to influence your listening and their message.
Focus your attention:- Construct a mental outline of where the speaker is going. Listen for transitions and the progression of ideas.
Summarize and evaluate:- Restate in your own words, just what you think was said. You should also question evidence used and mentally test the validity of evidence in support of a proposition.
