When most people hear the word Listen, they immediately imagine a mom telling a child to listen or a wife telling her husband he doesn’t listen. Sound familiar?
When people who want to become better leaders hear the word Listen, they often wonder how well they listen.
But others also think about not having time to Listen because so many people ramble on and on.
However, when I see the word Listen, I think of it as an important leadership skill which many leaders under value.
I’d like to share a few thoughts with you about the word Listen as it pertains to improving company results by improving your listing skills as a leader.
Effective Listening:
· greatly improves both our personal and professional relationships
· allows you to collaborate more effectively with team members
· will impact your future success
· improves your ability to connect and understand others needs
· helps establish mutual respect
· reduces the chances of conflict and is more likely to produce a win win situation
· gives you a chance to think before you speak, which is usually a good thing to do
Here’s the bottom line for you:
“Becoming an effective listener will improve your relationships with your team, customers and loved ones.” Jeri Ann Kelly
Here are some helpful actions that will help you become a better listener in your personal and professional life!
1. Put aside any distractions! That means turn off your phone, computer and well, anything that beeps at you.
2. Get out from behind your desk. If possible, sit without anything between you and the person you are talking to.
3. Make eye contact but don’t be scary and stare.
4. If it’s a planned conversation
- clear our mind of your opinions, start out with an open mind
- plan on listening intentionally
- take 2 minutes and deep breaths to clear your head before you enter the room
- if you are unsure of the purpose of the conversation, ask “how can I help you today”
5. While the person is talking paint a mental picture in your mind of what they are saying. This will help you stay focused and remember what they are saying.
6. It goes without saying but I will say it anyway – Don’t interrupt
7. Re-state and clarify what you have heard, or at least what you think you have heard.
8. Don’t offer solutions unless they ask, or you ask first if they would like your opinion
9. Ask curious type questions; don’t interrogate or put them down by asking things like
- Why did you do that?
- How could you possibly think that was going to be a good idea?
- Are you crazy?
10. Don’t “one up” them with a better story, one you think is better anyway.
11. Be careful of your body language. Fidgeting is defined as “feeling impatient,” and in my opinion the best way to let the person know you don’t care about what they are saying!
12. If you do tend to interrupt, jot down what you want to say but don’t take so many notes that you are not maintaining some eye contact. Or tell them, I am taking notes because I want to be sure I don’t miss anything you are saying.
This article was written for your benefit and the benefit of anyone you share this with, which I hope you do.
Comment and/or share this article and earn a chance to win John C Maxwell’s newest book Change the World!
Thank you, Jeri Ann Kelly
Your Personal and Professional Development Partner