Communication is often thought of as the art of making a good impression by what you say. But the ability to make a good impression with your ears, not just your mouth, is a far more important skill. Active listening is one of the least appreciated assets in the workplace, and one of the most valuable.
Why Listening Is a Superpower
You can gain all of the following benefits (and more) when you really listen:
You hear what people are really saying
You avoid misunderstandings
You strengthen work relationships
People perceive you as trustworthy, intelligent, and competent
What Active Listening Actually Means
Active listening isn’t just about passively sitting back, hearing the words that are coming out of the other person’s mouth, and waiting for your turn to talk. It’s about actively engaging with the speaker and really taking in what they’re trying to communicate.
Here are some key elements of active listening:
Give the speaker your undivided attention (no multitasking)
Make sure you really understand what the other person is trying to say
Wait until they finish speaking before you respond
If you’re already thinking about how you’re going to respond to what someone is saying while they’re still speaking, you’re not listening.
Ask Better Questions
While some people are naturally better listeners than others, the best listeners ask better questions. Here are some characteristics of useful questions:
They seek clarification
They express genuine interest
They help you better understand
Overall, this helps you communicate better and avoid misunderstandings.
Use Feedback to Show Engagement
Let the speaker know that you’re really listening to them. Here are a few ways to do this:
Physical cues like head nods or verbal cues like “uh-huh”
Paraphrasing what the speaker just said
Confirming the key points of the conversation
This helps establish trust and helps make the conversation flow better.
Avoid Common Listening Mistakes
Here are some common things that people do that sabotage their listening ability:
Cutting the speaker off before they’ve finished speaking
Making assumptions about what the speaker is going to say
Focus on how you’re going to respond instead of what the speaker is saying
All of these things will negatively impact your communication and could potentially harm your relationship with the other person.
Final Thoughts
While it’s not always easy to listen actively, doing so can make an immediate improvement in your communication. Here are just a few ways that you’ll benefit from really listening:
You communicate more effectively
You comprehend more effectively
You connect more effectively
In business, the best communicators are often the best leaders.