Watch for non-verbal clues. Listen with your eyes as well as your ears. Watch for non-verbal clues, such as the person’s body language. Beware not to fall into traps of misreading the signals!
Learn to use your thinking time wisely. Train your mind to scan like radar for key ideas. Try to identify the theme of the other person’s message, and check your grasp of the facts by asking them questions.
Become an observer. Avoid becoming ‘one who speaks and listens to himself speak’.
Listen with an open mind. We all have a tendency to resist ideas that are of no personal interest to us. Open your mind and focus on what the person is saying, even if you think you’re not interested – you might learn something new!
Be aware of your personal prejudices. Guard against the tendency to exercise emotional censorship by ignoring or blanking out ideas you would rather not hear. Listen all the way through. Do not jump to conclusions. The punch line usually doesn’t come until the end!
- Look at the person and use eye contact to show that you are listening.
- Turn off any negative thoughts you have about the person.
- Lean towards them.
- Start listening with the first word and listen intently.
- Think at the speed they are talking; don’t jump ahead.
- Do not interrupt.
- Nod in agreement; use facial expressions and body language to show you understand.
- Ask questions.
- Stick to the subject the person is talking about.
- Use the person’s name and the word ‘you’
