Are you a good listener at work? Most of us think we are, but very few of us actually listen well. Listening is one of the most important skills needed in the workplace, but few of us ever take the time to polish up those skills. According to the International Listening Association (yes, there really is one), listening is difficult for a broad range of reasons, including being distracted by our own thoughts or feelings, jumping ahead of the speaker to finish his or her thoughts, or even asking too many questions about details. Being a good listener makes a difference at work, allowing you to build stronger relationships and move projects forward more efficiently. Here are 5 tips to help you improve your listening skills.
1. Look at the other person.
Looking at the person who is speaking to you helps you focus on what they are saying. It may be hard to focus on someone’s eyes, but making eye contact in conversation is important because it communicates engagement. For some people, however, making prolonged eye contact can be extremely uncomfortable. MSU offers some great insights on how to appropriately maintain eye contact in a conversation. The site recommends the 50/70 rule: “maintain eye contact for 50 percent of the time while speaking and 70% of the time while listening”.
2. Treat them well.
A recent piece in Harvard Business Review by Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman highlighted the importance of making the speaker in the conversation feel like his or her thoughts were valued. They noted that “good listening was characterized by the creation of a safe environment” —meaning that the listener did not only nod or murmur in agreement. The good listener also tried to make the speaker feel comfortable. Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes can help.
3. Turn off the cell phone.
Eliminating distractions is integral to a successful conversation, and it is impossible to listen well if your mind is on checking your email or texting. If you know that you will be engaging in a conversation, such as a meeting with your supervisor or a hiring manager, put your phone in a safe location (a locked drawer or your briefcase) where you cannot touch it. For conversations that are spontaneous (“Do you have a minute? I need to talk to you about our proposal”), ask for a moment so you can turn off your phone. Then put it out of sight. The act of putting away your cell phone communicates that you do not want to be distracted by it and that you value what the other person is about to say.
4. Actively listen.
Nodding or murmuring agreement are acceptable ways to show that you are involved in the conversation, but active listening shows that you are really engaged. There are a number of methods to use for active listening. Asking open-ended questions and paraphrasing can help you get more information out of the conversation and shows that you are interested in what the speaker is communicating.
5. Wrap it up.
When the conversation is coming to an end or is over, it’s useful to summarize what was just said. This accomplishes two things: it gives you something concrete to work with and allows the other person to understand what you learned.
In our digital age, listening to others is more important than ever. Soft skills such as listening or being able to read body language can have a tremendous impact on your ability to get hired, maintain a job, and get promoted. Good listening skills are not natural—just like any other ability, they must be cultivated. Practicing in front of a mirror at home or talking to friends can help you get ready for listening at work. Improving your listening skills is one great way to support your career—wait, are you listening?