7 Steps For Effective Listening
Concentrating while listening to someone speak can have many benefits. Effective listening can foster trust and loyalty in one’s relationships, build meaningful connections, and show respect to others. While there is a plethora of distractions from interrupting, to losing focus, to inattentiveness, one can improve their listening habits with these 7 easy steps.
- Keep Eye Contact
Eye contact is considered to be a basic step in effective communication. Using our eyes as a level of communication, maintaining eye contact is important for several reasons. A form of body language, eye contact can help build a connection and trust with another person. Having good eye contact can also show respect, confidence, and openness; qualities that indicate effective communication. Avoiding eye contact can have negative impacts to your communication and promote un-trustworthiness. Good eye contact is a skill worth practicing for effective communication which can strengthen relationships with another person.
- Stay Attentive
Be attentive when communicating. Pay attention to the speaker to promote effective listening. Ways to stay attentive are to:
- Apply or Direct Yourself
- Pay Attention
- Be Present
- Be Ready to Serve
It’s important to keep from distractions as they draw one’s attention away when communicating. Being present and attentive when communicating with another can help develop reliable and resourceful relationships.
- Keep an open mind
Keep an open mind and listen without judging others. Untactful judgements and criticisms can compromise effective listening. A useful tip for effective listening is to remember to not jump to conclusions when conversing with another. Try not to interrupt the speaker as the speaker is representing their thoughts and feelings through language and that there is no way to tell what the other person is thinking without listening to them.
- Listen to the Speaker
Try to concentrate on what is being said, regardless if the subject is interesting or not. Stay focused on key words and phrases even if for long stretches. Finally, don’t think of things to say next. Center attention on the information being communicated. Allowing mental distractions is not conducive to effective listening as you cannot listen and rehearse at the same time.
- Don’t Interrupt
It is important not to interrupt and impose solutions or advice without consent. Even a brilliant solution can come off as aggressive and unthoughtful without the permission of the speaker expressing themselves. When interrupting, the message comes across as superior or more accurate, which sends uninviting and competitive signals. As we communicate with one another, keep in mind that people think and speak at differently.
- Pay Attention to Nonverbal Cues
People often express their feelings through body language and facial expressions. Pay attention to these nonverbal cues as they can help facilitate effective communication. A lot of information can be gathered without words. From enthusiasm, to fear, or boredom, these cues are conveyed in multiple ways. When listening, it’s wise to remember that words are only a part of the message.
- Give Feedback
In addition to all of the above steps, another useful tip for effective listening is to give feedback. Providing the speaker with feedback can show understanding for the speaker’s position. This exhibits the idea that you’re listening and following what the speaker is saying. The occasional nod or verbal indication helps to express that you’re on the same page and focused on the speaker.
While there are many other ways to have effective listening, it is good habit to practice these mindful steps for listening and building trust with others. Possessing these useful skills indicates confidence, openness, and effective communication, which is helpful for strengthening relationships.
