Do you know that if you want to be a effective communicator, you also need to develop good effective listening skills? Good verbal communication skills is a two-way process, just like dancing with a partner.
When you are communicating, be it listening or speaking, you must be attentive to whom you are speaking to, as well as mindful listening when the other person is talking.
When you are communicating, be it listening or speaking, you must be attentive to whom you are speaking to, as well as mindful listening when the other person is talking.
There must be an interaction. When you speak to a person, you also got to watch for cues to make sure that you're being understood. Then you can adjust or adapt your speech to suit the needs of your listener.
The problem is most of the time, people are not actually listening, but they’re eagerly waiting for the speaker to stop talking, so they can say whatever they’ve been mentally rehearsing, when the speaker was talking.
The problem is most of the time, people are not actually listening, but they’re eagerly waiting for the speaker to stop talking, so they can say whatever they’ve been mentally rehearsing, when the speaker was talking.
Of course people can usually sense that you are NOT listening to what they were saying. And chances, you could miss out what’s being said because they’re not pay attention.
If the people you interact with know and feel acknowledged by your mindful attention, then naturally they will reciprocate back to you.
If the people you interact with know and feel acknowledged by your mindful attention, then naturally they will reciprocate back to you.
When you listen attentively, you make the speaker feel worthy, appreciated, and respected.
The first thing is you need to do is, train yourself to be an active listener.
Face the person and focus on your listening, while maintaining eye contact.
Hang on to every word the other person is talking.
Concentrate or your mind will wander off. Avoid thinking about what you are going to say next.
Learn to refrain from the urge of quick responding by interrupting the speaker. Wait until the speaker is finish.
Watch carefully to the speaker's face, hand gestures and other body language.
Watch carefully to the speaker's face, hand gestures and other body language.
Look out for non-verbal communication cues, for instance the tone, pitch or facial expressions and even postures.
All these silent signals can tell a lot more than what the speaker is talking about.
Remember, in verbal communication,it is not merely about talking. The listening is equally important too. So it's time to develop good effective listening skills today.
