3 Keys Active Listening Skills in the Workplace
Sam Maiyaki
I'm the Brand strategist for emerging and established brands who want to grow, nurture and convert their audience.
"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand." - Karl A. Menninger
Welcome to the latest episode of my LinkedIn newsletter!
Today, I want to talk about a vital skill that often gets overlooked in communication: Active Listening.
Active listening is the art of paying close attention to what someone is saying, both verbally and nonverbally, and responding in a way that shows you understand and care.
Active listening skills are essential in both personal and professional relationships.
By listening carefully, you can build trust, make deeper connections, and avoid misunderstandings or conflicts.
So, let's dive into the key skills that make up active listening:
1. Nonverbal Communication Skills
One of the most critical aspects of active listening is nonverbal communication.
Nonverbal cues account for up to 93% of communication, and they can often reveal more than words alone.
Eye contact, facial expressions, body language, posture, and gestures can all convey important information about how someone is feeling or what they're trying to say.
For example, if someone is fidgeting and avoiding eye contact, it could mean that they are nervous or uncomfortable.
On the other hand, if someone is smiling and making eye contact, it could suggest that they're happy or interested in the conversation.
By paying attention to these nonverbal cues, you can gain a better understanding of what someone is trying to communicate.
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2. Verbal communication skills
In addition to nonverbal cues, verbal communication skills are also essential for active listening.
To communicate well, you need to clarify, rephrase, summarize, ask open-ended questions, encourage answers, and respond with empathy.
For example, putting what someone has said in your own words can help clear up any confusion or make sure you understand their message correctly.
Asking open-ended questions can encourage someone to share more information and help you understand their perspective better.
And responding with empathy can show that you care and are invested in their wellbeing.
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3. Attitudinal Skills
Lastly, it's important to have the right attitude when listening.
This means being patient and quiet, avoiding distractions, suspending judgment, and developing curiosity, empathy, and respect.
To get better at these skills, you have to work at them and want to, and they can be hard to master.
But by practicing these skills regularly, you can become a better listener and communicator.
For example, suspending judgment means putting aside any ideas or biases you may have and being willing to hear someone else's point of view without judging it right away.
Empathy means trying to understand someone else's feelings and emotions and acknowledging them.
By working on these skills, you can create a place where people feel safe and welcome to say what they want.
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Barriers to Effective Listening
It's also essential to recognize the barriers that can hinder effective listening, which include:
These can all make it difficult to listen actively. By identifying these barriers, you can take steps to overcome them and improve your listening skills.
Benefits of Active Listening
Let's talk about the benefits of active listening.
By actively listening, you can:
Active listening can also lead to a more enjoyable and fulfilling conversation, both for you and the other person.
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Conclusion?
You can become a better listener and communicator at work by working on your verbal and nonverbal communication skills, your attitude, and how to get past barriers to listening. So, I encourage you to take action today and start practicing active listening in your daily life. Your relationships and communication skills will thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. If you have any further questions or want to discuss this topic in more detail, please contact me [email protected]. I am always happy to help and will do my best to respond to your message immediately.