Becoming a Good Listener

Today's biggest buzzword is "Communication." The need for communication is at an all-time high as the world around us grows closer and more competitive. Although focus is now aimed at how important communication is in today's world, finding someone who will listen to you can be difficult. As the business world continues to evolve and these feelings of loneliness persist, the need for good listeners will continue to grow.
In this excerpt you will find useful tips that will help you be a better listener. Just like becoming a good networker, becoming a good listener is a serious and studied commitment that will continually place constant demands on you.

Networking strategy # 3: Becoming a Good Listener

• Nod or shake your head in response to a speaker's comments.
• Use brief verbal responses that indicate you are listening such as "yes" "I see" "go on," etc.
• Recognize the feelings underneath the speaker's words.
• Change you facial expression as appropriate (e.g., show concern, excitement).
• Test how well you understand the speaker by trying to put his or her ideas into your own words.
• Don't judge or criticize the speaker.
• Learn to listen to what is not spoken as well as to what is spoken.
• Learn to ask good, open-ended questions.
• Listen with an intended purpose.

You can increase your listening abilities through practice and conscious awareness of what you focus on. Other useful tips for learning to be a good listener include:

• Observing the speaker's body language-his or her nonverbal communication-for unspoken meaning. Up to 55 percent of what people intend to communicate can be unspoken.
• Providing feedback beyond the basics-not just nods or "oh, yes."
• Keeping an open and accepting mind to what is being said.
• Listening for topics of mutual interest that you may expand on in future conversations.

Learning to be a good listener is a skill to develop and nurture, just as you would do with any relationship. When compared to others, good listeners have the advantage of clarity-they get the full and intended impact of the message. And, in today's world any and every advantage is a plus.

In Summary

Good listening skills give you an edge over others who do not possess these skills. With good listening skills, you can comprehend the need of others-both stated and unstated-as well as listen more closely to how you express your own needs. With practice, being a good listener can become a valuable asset to include in your list of networking skills.