Great Work Achievers Are Great Listeners!

Great Work Achievers Are Great Listeners!

Most people listen well but they do so only when they want or have to. Some of the causes of this behavior are they either don't care, defensive to the core; don't value others, impatient or just too busy. Great achievers do the opposite and have mastered the following listening skills that always allow them to be top performers.

1. Listen Through - Do Not Interrupt
When listening do not interrupt before the other person talking is finished and when they pause do not put words in their mouth by suggesting words. If time is not on your side and you want to end a conversation, be polite by asking if the conversation could be summarized.

2. Ask Questions
Good listeners ask lots of questions to get to a good understanding. This could be done by probing or asking for clarification. If you are not sure what the other party is referring to ask for confirmation. Ask one more question than you do now.

3. Work on non-verbal cues
Don't frown, fidget with your pen or stare blankly even if you are a point where you have given up listening. Tell them what you think. Most people forget about this component of listening. They think that listening is only done by the ear. Your posture can determine if you are actually listening or not. Work on this vital piece.

4. Have Patience
Develop the patience to listen to people. Interrupt to summarize if necessary. Tell the other person to be shorter next time. Structure the conversation by helping them come up with categories and structures to stop their rambling. Put your mind in neutral and ask questions if need be.

5. Don't be a selective listener
What I mean by this is don't make a decision who you want to listen and who you do not want to listen to. What are you basing your criteria on? Is it skills, age, gender, race or your needs? You might miss some important information if you are selective on whom you listen to? Challenge yourself to practice listening to those you don't usually listen to. Listen for content. Separate the content from the person.

6. Be composed when listening
How do you react when getting negative feedback? The natural tendency is to be defensive. What if you are being personally attacked and it ends up showing that you are right? The rules remain the same - you need to be composed! You need to be calm. Listen and understand what the person is getting at. Ask clarifying questions and work on keeping yourself in a calm state when getting negative feedback.
Listening involves knowing what others have said and meant to say and making them comfortable that they have had their say. Your ability to master listening techniques opens doors that a few have done to achieve success in their lives.