Learn how to be a better listener with these 5 tips

Being a great listener is a significant part of personal growth and development. It can enhance the quality of the relationships in your everyday life. Imagine being able to quickly gain keen understanding of another person’s ideas. This will help you in making better decisions, learn new concepts and save time by avoiding any confusion.

Most importantly, being a great listener will help you know what someone really wants or needs. With this knowledge you will have the power to succeed in satisfying the important people in your business and personal life.

Of course, becoming a great listener will take some time. Here are some tips that you can use everyday to practice effective listening:

1. Look, nod and lean

Being a great listener involves communicating to the speaker with your body language. Having the correct body language will give the proper feedback that you are paying attention and gives the speaker a sign of your interest.

Look: make sure you establish eye contact and turn to look at the person talking. It makes a big difference in remembering what someone has said.

Nod: Its important to respond to the speaker’s cue. If you agree with the speaker nod your head or smile. This will give the speaker an indication that you understand.

Lean: People who are genuinely interested in a subject will lean towards the person speaking (while they are sitting) and will usually lean back when listening to a dull subject. Try leaning towards the speaker, you will notice that you can become more attentive and focused.

2. Ask questions

Asking questions will let speaker gauge if you were listening. More, importantly it will show how much you understand the message. Try to ask questions that will either provide more detail or help the speaker get to the point.

Don’t hesitate to ask a question because you think it’s a stupid question. It’s best that you ask the question right away than waiting to ask after the speaker has expanded into a more advanced conversation about the topic. This will save you time and trouble in the long run.

3. No interruptions

Don’t interrupt even if you completely understand the speaker and know what he is going to say. This is just a rude thing to do. You have to let them finish their sentence; it will give the speaker a good impression of you and make them feel that they are important.

4. Stick to the subject

Try not to switch the subject until the speaker has established their point. You might be anxious to get to another topic. However, if you switch topics early then you could miss out on the most important part of the previous topic. Sticking to the subject will ensure that you have reached the point and what you were listening for in the first place.

5. Rephrase in speakers words

A great tip for becoming a better listener is to use the speaker’s words to get your own point across. After they have finished talking, repeat back to them some of the things they have said. Not only do you prove that you have been listening but its also a great way to start talking about your ideas. Start your statements with “As you mentioned…” or “like you said…”

Also with this ability of rephrasing you can improve your memory retention ability. When you rephrase the ideas in your own words it makes sense to you and lets you understand on your own terms.