5 Tips – Improve Your Listening Skills
There is a huge difference between hearing someone and listening to them.
Listening isn’t always easy.
But it is a key part of being a manager and a team member.
This goes hand in hand with our line manager courses, learning to listen is fundamental to managing.
5 Tips For Listening Skills
Listening is all about attention.
Actively listening to the person speaking to you, and showing them you are doing so.
This is important as a manager, and as a team member.
The best way to get started is to have a good environment to speak in.
1. Remove Distractions
Trying to talk when phones are ringing, or people are walking in and out of the room is frustrating.
Put your phones on silent, and pick a room to have your discussion.
Put a sign on the door saying not to interrupt!
Distractions will move everyone off their train of thought, and actually stops people from speaking up.
The first key to listening is ensuring everyone is comfortable speaking.
2. Be Positive About Questions
When asked a question:
Smile and use positive language in response.
This encourages people and lets them know you are really listening.
It’s also a great way to step up as a team leader, and encourage your employees to keep communicating with you.
Use responses like: “Great question” or “That’s an interesting point”.
This will let the other person know you value their input.
3. Eye contact
Eye contact is the best way to let someone know that they have your attention.
When replying to a question:
Make sure that you hold good eye contact with the person who asked it.
This will make the individual feel valued, and show others that if they speak, they will be rewarded.
4. Body Language
In addition to your eye contact, your body language needs to be positive and encouraging.
This is very important during a performance review, so that criticism doesn’t feel like a personal attack.
Your voice and body language go hand in hand.
Face the person that you are speaking to, and stand with confidence.
This shows them that you respect them and care about responding to them.
5. Ask for feedback
Whether people have questions or not, always ask for feedback.
This is when people who are more shy will most likely get talking.
Remember, both managers and team members can be reserved!
This shows everyone that you want feedback, and are committed to being your best self!
Practice
Like all good skills, you need to practice listening.
If you are serious about building up your skills, ask a colleague or friend to tell you a short story.
Keep all the tips above in mind, and understand your own thought process.
Thinking about your own strengths and weaknesses is the key to improving.
Images from Andrea Piacquadio and Cristina Morillo
