5 Ways to Practice Active Listening
Jacob Morgan
5x Best-Selling Author, Futurist, & Keynote Speaker. Founder of Future Of Work Leaders (Global CHRO Community). Focused on Leadership, The Future of Work, & Employee Experience
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When you talk to someone, are you listening or simply hearing?
Hearing is just letting sound enter your ear. It is passive and doesn’t require any effort.
Listening, on the other hand, is purposeful and requires your attention, focus, and effort.
Great leaders must be great listeners. Actively listening to people builds trust, strengthens relationships, and encourages collaboration.
To practice active listening, remember the acronym BUILD:
B: Body Language
How you stand and hold yourself sends a message. When you have good posture and an open stance, it shows you are focused on the person you are talking to and are receptive to their message.
U: Understanding
Listen to understand what is being said. Don’t just stand there and nod your head and then realize later that you have no idea what you just talked about.
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I: Interrupting
When you interrupt someone, it cuts off the flow of the conversation and makes it seem like what you have to say is more important than what the other person is saying.
L: Look them in the eye
Eye contact is powerful and shows you are paying attention and valuing what is being said. With as much time as we spend looking at screens these days, it takes effort to actually look people in the eye.
D: Don’t judge
Going into a conversation with a judging mindset can destroy the potential for progress or growth. Instead, practice empathy and put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
Active listening takes work, but if you practice BUILD and improve as a listener and communicator, you will be set up for success in the future of work.
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BUSINESS OWNER / SENIOR FINANCE AND OPERATIONS PROFESSIONAL: LANGUAGES: ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH, ITALIAN
3 年This is an extremely intelligent article. Thanks for the Acronym! I realized a long time ago that when many are introducing themselves, they are concentrating on what “they” are going to say. That’s why we forget names. Gulilty, myself of a few of these. Very eye opening. Jen
Great acronym! This is still so important for video calls too!
IPS Employment Specialist at Fife Employment Access Trust | Supporting people with mental health conditions to find work based on their individual preferences, overcome barriers and provide in-work support
3 年Hearing is not the same as Listening and Looking is not the same as seeing ;-)
Center for Offshore Safety Senior Director
3 年Great and easy to remember acronym for this important skill set.