It is not possible to do work or routine work without listening. Listening skills play an important role in the overall communication process and are essentially important for sales people who communicate directly with customers. Not only sales people but many people are bad listeners in their daily lives. Listening is often confused and used interchangeably with hearing. There is a big difference between listening and hearing.
Listening is a physical act, while listening is the act of listening and at the same time retaining and understanding information. Listening is active while hearing is passive. Although everyone knows the importance of listening skills when communicating with each other, very few pay attention to their listening skills and this often becomes a major barrier to effective communication. Several studies show that adults generally listen at only a 25% efficiency level, and experts agree that poor listening skills are the main contributors to poor communication. It is not just listening, but skillful listening that is needed in this competitive world. Listening skills generally involve the ability to evaluate ideas, recognize the difference between facts and opinions, use questions and comments to clarify communication, recognize loaded language, and recognize common hearing barriers.
Listening can fall into any of the categories mentioned below:
Active listening: Active listening is a way of listening and responding to another person that enhances mutual understanding. You listen carefully to the content and intent. Try to block the barriers to hearing. The most important thing is that you do not judge and be empathetic.
Inactive Listening: The definition of this is the old adage, “In one ear and out the other.” Inactive listening is simply being present when someone is speaking, but not absorbing what is being said. You hear the words, but your mind is wandering and there is no communication.
Selective listening: Selective listening is listening to what you want to hear or what you expect to hear instead of what is said. He listens to part of the message and immediately begins to formulate his answer or guess the speaker without waiting for the speaker to finish.
Reflective Listening: This is one of the most complex types of listening. It involves actively listening, interpreting what is said, and observing how it is said. Work to clarify what the speaker is saying and make sure there is a mutual understanding.
When one is involved in the communication process, one may be engaged in any of the above listening skills, or at times may combine all of them.
Poor listening usually occurs due to lack of control over the speed at which speakers speak, not being able to repeat things, the listener’s limited vocabulary, lack of recognition of “signs”, interpretation problems, inability to concentrate and it may even be due to some established learning habits.
A 10-step formula that will help you listen better.
1) Look at the speaker and maintain eye contact.
2) Keep an open mind
3) Listen to ideas/concepts and not just words
4) Do not interrupt the speaker
5) Wait for the pause for questions
6) Ask questions
7) Be attentive
8) Feel the speaker’s feelings (empathize with the speaker)
9) Give feedback
10) Pay attention to what is not said.
Although it is difficult to be a good listener on a consistent basis, the 10-step formula will always help you improve your listening skills.