| Listening Basics By: Bob Belaire "A good listener is not someone who has to be checked every now and then by the speaker to see if he is awake." - Judith Martin, also known as Miss Manners Did you know that listening makes up more than 50 percent of our time on the job and at home? Listening is our primary way of assessing situations, identifying problems and finding solutions. Effective listening skills help us become more productive, meet the needs of others and get along better with our coworkers, friends and family. How did you feel the last time your boss, coworker, friend or family member showed interest in what you said? You probably felt flattered. People feel they same way when they know you're listening to them. When you show people you're listening, you acknowledge their views and feelings. As a result, they'll feel good about you. Wouldn't it be great if people at home and work hung on our every word? Nice dream, but good morning - it's time to wake up! More than 60 percent of all misunderstandings are the result of ineffective listening skills, studies show. Poor listening increases stress and friction, plus it wastes time, effort and resources. And, let's face it, our lives are tough enough, so the choice is up to you. Improve your listening skills - improve your life. There are three basic levels of listening: borderline, factual and active. Everyone drifts among all three levels - sometimes in the same conversation - depending on our skills, focus, distractions and motivation to listen. Borderline listening: We're probably otherwise engaged, formulating a response or silently rejecting the other person's views. We may get bits and pieces of the message, but we often miss the main points and any implied meanings. Factual listening: We're like detectives who say, "Just the facts, ma'am." We get all the details and the "little picture," but we may miss the big picture, the implied meanings and the feelings behind the words. Active listening: We're restating the important details and the main ideas. Messages are clearly communicated and both people feel good about the exchange. Key Tips Key Tip 1 Eliminate as many distractions as possible. Turn off your radio, hold your telephone calls and put other work aside to show that you're ready to listen to what people have to say. Key Tip 2 Focus your total attention on the other person. Don't think about what you're going to say next. If you respond too soon, you're probably not listening, and likely to miss the main ideas, critical details and feelings. Key Tip 3 Listen for the important details and the main points to help you understand the big picture and the little picture. Also pay attention to what isn't said. You may need to ask about those points later. Key Tip 4 Restate in your own words the speaker's main points and some important details to show that you were listening and that you understood what was said. Ask questions for clarification or to encourage the person to continue talking. |