If you’d like to sharpen your abilities, here’s the way to be a good listener

Video on this topic:

                                        How To Improve Your Listening Skills

                                       

Being a decent audience is like having great conduct. It separates you from the group and makes others incline toward you. The accompanying suggestions can offer you some assistance to be a good listener: 

1.Avoid Talking:  

This is an essential aspect in the process of listening. The speaker can't talk and put the idea over if the audience proceeds to talk. Therefore, gathering of people should stop talking and begin listening because it is necessary to focus and comprehend the message clearly.

2. Show Desire to Listen:

The group of people gathered to listen should show preparedness and care to listen to the message. Always keep pen and pad arranged to take notes of important items. This will ease the mind of listener while taking notes. Also, one should have proper place to store these notes and utilize them when needed.

3. Eye Contact: 

Eye contact is essential for successful listening. When an individual does not take a look at the speaker, it implies he or she is not interested in listening to the speaker. The audience must keep up eye contact with the speaker as it supports the speaker while conveying the message.

4. Clear Distractions: 

Control internal and external distractions in order to maintain contact with the speaker. Look for a place where you can hear properly without any obstacles such as noises from opening and closing of doors, cell phones etc. Internally, attempt to concentrate absolutely on the speaker and set aside other thoughts.   

5. Sympathize with the Speaker:

This means that one should place himself in the speaker’s shoes and attempt to understand his point of view. Try not to finish other tasks in the meantime you are listening to speaker. The individuals can make a suitable atmosphere that enables others to join wholeheartedly toward the speaker.

6. Be Patient: 

Every speaker has his own way to deliver speech and he must be offered time to have his say. The crowd should not make any interruptions, negative remarks, rude comments etc. One should not leave while the speaker is talking. Such gestures can cause hard feelings.

7. Hold Temper: 

Good listening requires the right attitude. Sometimes, the crowd may not appreciate what the speaker is expressing or may feel that the speaker is mistaken. Ensure that you have appreciated what the speaker is expressing and hold your judgment till the message is done.

8. Make inquiries and Extract More: 

The audience should ask their inquiries at the right chance to extract more data. Sometimes, the speaker held question-answer session encouraging the listeners to understand more. It is normally seen that sometimes individuals put various questions to the speaker and looks for clarification until they get satisfied. This help them to learn more about the subject matter.  

In nutshell, the speaker reacts eagerly to such grateful audience members. Now, It can be said that listening is very important aspect and above rules must be followed to ensure effective listening.

References:

Mary Ellen Guffey, Kathleen Rhodes & Patricia Rogin. (2011). Developing Team, Listening and Etiquette Skills. In K. R. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process & Product (6th Canadian Ed.) (p. 59). ON: Nelson.