How can you develop listening skills for a career in Financial Services?

1 Tip 1: Prepare yourself

Before you engage in any conversation, make sure you are ready to listen. This means clearing your mind of distractions, setting a positive and respectful tone, and having a clear purpose and agenda. You can also do some research on the person or topic you are going to listen to, so you can ask relevant and insightful questions and show genuine interest.

2 Tip 2: Use active listening techniques

Active listening is an important skill for avoiding misunderstandings, confirming understanding, and showing empathy and support. To do this, you can use techniques such as paraphrasing, asking open-ended questions, providing feedback, and using non-verbal cues. Paraphrasing involves repeating what the speaker said in your own words to check accuracy and comprehension. Open-ended questions start with who, what, where, when, why, and how to get more information. Providing feedback involves expressing opinions, feelings, or suggestions in a constructive and respectful way. Non-verbal cues like eye contact, nodding, smiling, and leaning forward show interest and engagement.

3 Tip 3: Avoid common listening barriers

Listening barriers are anything that prevents you from listening effectively. Common listening barriers in Financial Services include jargon, assumptions, interruptions, and multitasking. To overcome these, ask for clarification when you encounter unfamiliar terms, keep an open mind to different perspectives or opinions, wait for your turn to speak instead of interrupting the speaker, and focus on the speaker without any distractions.

4 Tip 4: Practice your listening skills

Improving your listening skills is like any other skill - it requires practice and feedback. You can practice by seeking opportunities to listen to different types of speakers, such as colleagues, clients, experts, or mentors. Additionally, you should ask for feedback from others on how well you listen and what you can improve on. Evaluating your own performance and identifying your strengths and weaknesses is also beneficial. Lastly, it is important to set goals and action plans to work on your listening skills.

5 Tip 5: Apply your listening skills

Listening skills are not only useful for conversations, but also for other aspects of your work in Financial Services. You can apply your listening skills by reading and analyzing financial reports, data, or news with attention and critical thinking. Additionally, you can use your research to write and present clear and concise reports, proposals, or recommendations. Furthermore, listening skills help you collaborate and negotiate with your team, partners, or stakeholders based on mutual understanding and respect. Finally, you can solve problems and make decisions based on the information and feedback you have listened to. Listening skills are not only beneficial for your career in Financial Services, but also for your personal and professional growth. By developing your listening skills, you can enhance your communication, relationship, and performance in this dynamic and rewarding industry.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?