Active Listening: Becoming a Great Listener
We live in a world were we are constantly bombarded with information via the Internet, cell phones and text messaging. In order to cope we tend to filter out most of it in. But personal communication should be different. Personal communication is all about giving and receiving. Communication by definition cannot (or at least should not) be one way.
As a result of living in this fast paced world we frequently fail to consider focusing on what others have to say and instead make the mistake of obsessively expressing our own thoughts. If you are in business or sales (and we all are trying to sell something to others even if it is just our opinions), you must begin to appreciate that others have something to say too—but most of the time we are preoccupied with our own needs to even really list to what the other person’s message.
Communication is a Mutual Exchange
Communication, after all, is supposed to be a mutual exchange of ideas. Instead of thinking about what we have to say next, we should learn to be an active listener and focus on the message of the person with whom we are speaking.
All too often, we try to outmatch each other as if communication were a competitive event. You know what I mean; we’ve all been guilty of half-listening to others while thinking instead of our rebuttal. But not actively listening and focusing in on the words of others actually breaks down communication. You’ve no doubt heard that to get what you want in life you have to help others get what they want, yes? But when your main priority is to get yourself heard first, everyone loses.
Fully Comprehend What Others Have to Say
To succeed in life we need to master our communication skills, and that means understanding that communication is not just about expressing your needs and opinions. As important as being able to express is, it is infinitely more important to hear and comprehend what the other person has to say. It is only then that we can learn together and from each other. To become a great listener, you need to practice the lost art of active listening.
Active Listening Requires Total Focus
Active listening requires you to totally focus when you communicate with others. Stop thinking about what you are going to say to them in response. Communication is not a tennis match. You have to develop your communication skills by first paying attention of what the other person is saying.
Benefits of Active Listening
Actively listening offers many benefits. It opens a portal into to the other person’s innermost thoughts. When it comes to business related communication, it is our responsibility to make adjustments so that we can better understand our customers—making it more likely to close the deal. The better we actively listen, the more rapport we build with others. Active listening sends out a signal that you respect and appreciate the other person and we all like and NEED to be appreciated, don’t we?
Active listening is a powerful business tool, but it really is just a matter respect. I say this because I want to impress upon you that this is so much more than a sales strategy. Try using active listening in all of your communications—with family, friends and yes, everyone!
Are You an Active Listener?
How has active listening helped you?
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