Do you have active listening skills, or are you framing an answer while the person talks in front of you? It is necessary to listen to the other side of the story before you reply. Even if the person agrees with you, you can tell how genuine it is when you pay attention. Since you cannot meet anyone in person now, it is vital that you improve your active listening skills to catch the undertone. In this article at Project Bliss, Leigh Espy shares reasons and tips to help project managers be better listeners.
Improving Active Listening Skills
The Internet has enabled us to reach out to people on another continent. However, it has also prevented us from listening actively to the person in front of us. We are ever busy fighting virtually for a global crisis but do not pay attention to team concerns. We talk ‘at each other, rather than with one another’. Here are the reasons to have active listening skills:
Considering Varying Viewpoints
The more people you have under your wing, the more open you should be to their opinions. Listen to all the views and then explain how yours is better.
Increasing Knowledge Base
According to TV presenter Bill Nye, “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” So, why do not you go ahead and listen to deepen your knowledge?
Conflict Resolution
Since teammates look up to you, they want you to listen to their side of the story. So, it is imperative to have active listening skills to provide an objective resolution.
Understanding Information Correctly
Sometimes, you might not get the speaker’s message correctly. Actively listening to the speaker enables you to discover the real message.
Building Rapport
Active listening skills are an essential element in a relationship, be it official or personal. Listening to stakeholders can help confirm or negotiate things early in the process.
Tips to Active Listening
- Instead of going through several things together, pay attention to what the person is saying.
- Do not let your mind stray to the upcoming tasks or prepare for a nice comeback as soon as your coworker stops talking.
- Assure the person that you are listening through verbal cues or body language.
- If you are unclear about things, confirm by asking questions.
- Once the speaker is done, use your own words to describe what the individual said. It enables your coworker to fill in the gaps that you have missed.
- You can establish the feelings behind the person’s putting the points forward, like to get a job done faster.
- Observe their body language. Even though the coworkers agree to you verbally, they might not be favoring your opinion.
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