Want to be More Effective? Learn to Listen

"The problem with communication is the illusion that is has occurred."
George Bernard Shaw

Listening can be a very powerful business tool. The value of communication is often discussed in company meetings, but is anyone actually taking the time to listen to what is being said? Listening may seem like a simple activity, but it is not always an easy one. The person who can stop for a moment and listen will be the one with the greatest business advantage. Good listening habits lead to better relationships with employees, vendors, strategic partners, and clients. And as everyone knows, good or bad relationships have a direct impact on an organization’s bottom line.

Do you know what it takes to be a good listener? Listening is not passively hearing words. Listening is the act of receiving, attending to, interpreting, and responding to verbal and non-verbal messages in ways appropriate to a situation. Real listening takes time and patience, and the payoff is definitely worth the effort.

At a recent executive seminar I facilitated, a participant shared the following:

Frankly I had never thought of listening as an important subject. But now that I am aware of it, I think that at least 75% of my work depends on listening to someone, or someone else listening to me. Thanks for the very useful information, and I look forward to continuing to improve my listening skills.

Improving your listening skills will positively impact your business in a variety of ways. It is a continuous process that yields multiple benefits.

• Listening is the undiscovered leadership skill if you want to influence employees.  
• Listening creates relationships, particularly in “upward communication.”
• Listening builds high-performance teams and encourages people to achieve their full potential.
• Better listening skills can reduce negative interactions that can be a detriment to employee relations.
• Good listening can result in less paper work, fewer memos and shorter meetings.
• Listening builds and strengthens client relationships.
• Listening eliminates the “emotional filters” that prevent us from truly understanding each other.

The flow of communication within an organization can improve greatly just by making people aware of how important it is to listen. Luckily, listening is a skill that can be learned.

Next time you get into a conversation with someone, see if you can implement the following good listening strategies:

• Listen first, and then speak.
• Be aware if you start cutting off the speaker mid-sentence or mid-thought.
• If you feel the need to interrupt, pause and count to 10 before responding.
• Don’t jump to conclusions before you have heard the whole message. We think we already know what the person is going to say before the sentence is finished.
• Keep an open mind and be flexible to others’ ideas; release your need to be right.

Don’t judge yourself harshly if the previous task turned out to be more difficult than you imagined. We are not conditioned to take time to carefully listen to every individual with whom we come in contact. “Time is money,” and we tend to rush many of our transactions. However, if we make an effort to truly listen, we will actually save time, and money, in the long run. It is amazing what you can learn when you are quiet and listen. Only by listening effectively can we respond to each person and each situation appropriately.

Some businesses may want to take steps to develop a listening improvement program within their companies. Here are several suggestions designed to build listening awareness:

1. Devote an executive seminar or seminars to a discussion of the roles and functions of listening as a business tool.
2. Minimize distractions when speaking with some one (interruptions, noises, clutter, step away from your desk and email) and do only one thing: LISTEN.
3. Be aware of your body language. Demonstrate your full attention by leaning forward slightly and focusing on the speaker’s face. Try not to fidget or look away. Smiling can also have an amazing effect. When you smile, look the speaker in the eye, nod, and lean forward, you send the message that you are fully engaged in what the person is saying.
4. Always ask questions, even if you don’t have any. Questions tell the speaker that you have been listening and are committed to resolving whatever issue is being discussed.
5. Take notes during the conversation.
6. Paraphrase what has been said. This lets the speaker know that you have been actively listening, and it also gives you an opportunity to clarify the issues in your own mind. Ask questions like, “What I heard you say was…” or “I want to make sure I understand you correctly. You are saying that…”
7. Give a test in listening ability that helps individuals understand their most natural listening approach and how it might apply to business.
8. Conduct a self-inventory for employees regarding their listening skills on the job. What percentage of their time do people spend listening? How might their jobs be positively affected by improving listening skills?
9. Sponsor a series of lectures for employees and their families. The lectures could be on any number of interesting topics and that have educational value.

Remember, with two ears and one mouth we have twice the chance to listen before we speak. Who can you listen to today?

I would love to hear about your commitment to become a more effective listener. Please email at Kristi@klrconsulting.com, and I will support you on your effective listening journey.

I commit to __________________________________________________________________.

The key positive and negative factors impacting my ability to achieve this goal(s):

                          Positive                                                                           Negative

I will know I have accomplished this goal when _____________________________________.

Good luck and happy listening!