Listening skills play a vital role in the workplace and in your daily life. Whether it's taking part in a meeting, attending a class, or conversing with a friend, you'll always be listening to someone.

Many people spend over half of their working hours communicating with other people. With so many tasks going on at once– conference calls, directives from superiors, co-workers with questions and problems– it is easy to miss something important.

It is also easy to be a good listener. Listening requires just two things: taking in the words being said and paying attention to how they are expressed.

Types of Listening: Active vs. Passive

There are two types of listening: active and passive. Active listeners are interested in what the speaker is saying, and they are responsive when necessary. Passive listeners simply sit back and follow along without participation or feedback.

The Importance of Good Listening Skills in the Workplace

There is an art to being a good listener, and you must take the time to learn this art if you want to improve your communication skills and enjoy listening to others more. By following these tips, you will be able to listen better and become more attentive to what other people are saying:

Promotes Understanding

As a manager, you may feel there are more pressing matters to attend to rather than listen to a team member drone on about their personal life or other trivial issues. But what may seem like unimportant chatter can help you better understand your employees, improve your office culture, and the overall mood in your office.

When you have good active listening skills, you will find that you can better understand people, build relationships and develop ideas effectively. Active listening can also help you avoid misunderstandings when things are said that may have more than one meaning.

It Promotes Respect

Listening gives the impression that you want to learn from your speaker. It shows that you are open-minded and eager to expand your knowledge base. You'll be surprised at how much respect people will give you when they see that you listen to them without judgment.

Improves Productivity

Listening will make you more observant and aware of what's happening at any given time. It gives the ability for you to detect problems before they arise, which means that you can react faster to a situation than someone who isn't aware and doesn't listen well.

Helps with Career Growth

Listening is an essential skill for many professions because it helps people work effectively with each other. Employers look for employees who demonstrate superior listening skills in interviews and job applications. They want co-workers who can communicate effectively with one another to get their work done more efficiently.

Improves Customer Satisfaction

Whether it's a customer who has a complaint or an investor who needs information from you, good listeners make everyone around them feel important. Good listeners take the time to understand what people are saying and how they're feeling about what they're saying.

How to Become a Good Listener

It seems like listening should be an easy skill to master: Pay attention, right? And yet, many people struggle with it. It's not just that people talk too much or that their attention wanders. The problem is that people don't listen hard enough or well enough. Here are some tips for improving your listening skills.

Pay attention

Genuinely listening to someone is not just hearing the words they speak; it is about understanding what they are trying to communicate. As soon as you realize you're daydreaming about something else or mentally preparing a response, refocus your attention on the person speaking.

Put Yourself in the Other Person's Shoes

When listening to someone, make an effort to see the world from their perspective instead of assuming that you know what they are saying. This will help you understand them better and make them feel more comfortable with you, which will enable a more effective communication channel between you.

Maintain eye contact

While the other person speaks, make sure you're looking them in the eye. This shows that you're engaged and interested in what they're saying and helps them feel more comfortable. The downside of not making eye contact is that it can come across as if you're not listening, much less interested in what's being said.

Avoid Interrupting the Speaker

Don't interrupt the speaker by finishing their sentences or talking over them altogether. Nod your head or use verbal cues like "I see," "uh-huh," and "really?" to show that you're listening carefully and understanding what's being said.

Know What You Need to Hear

Before you listen to anyone, take a moment to think about exactly what it is that you expect to hear. By looking at the situation from the listener's point of view, you may anticipate what they will say and listen better to be sure.

Be a Good Observer

You don't have to be a mind-reader to understand people. Observe body language – are they making eye contact? Are their arms crossed or relaxed? What's their tone of voice? Are they fidgeting or sitting still? These observations will help you interpret what someone is feeling, which is often as important as what they're saying.

Set Aside Distractions

Please turn your phone off and put it out of sight. If there's anything else in the room that might distract you, move it. Clear your mind of everything except for the person speaking. If possible, try not to do any other activity while listening.

Test Your Listening Skills with Quality Teleconferencing

You can practice your listening skills by making a conference call to friends and family, or even someone in a different country! This will allow you to pick up on different accents and practices. At Conference Town, we have a list of teleconferencing services that can be of great help, especially when it comes to gauging your listening skills. If you're in a business requiring you to talk with people often, don't hesitate to contact us.