What are listening skills?
Hearing is a passive process referring to our reception of all types of
sounds. Listening, however, is an active process that involves focus andadesire to understand the speaker’s message. It involves analyzing what issaid, then providing meaningful responses, sharing thoughts, or offeringadvice to the other person. Although hearing is a human reflex, listening is a skill that requires longterm practice to master. Listening skills apply not only to the workenvironment but also to family life, friendships, and relationships withcolleagues. Furthermore, listening skills are a fundamental requirement
that businesses and companies expect from their employees.
(Listening is an active process driven by the desire to understandandshare with others)
The importance of listening skills
In work
Regardless of the profession, whether lawyer, consultant, salesperson, or
office worker, listening skills are always crucial. Listening not onlyhelpsus learn from experience and understand the personalities, habits, interests, and sentiments of colleagues, customers, and partners, but it
also helps us generate ideas to solve problems quickly. Especiallyfor
leaders, listening skills help them understand their employees, buildcohesion, and increase work efficiency.
In life
Listening skills help us build and develop relationships. Becauseincommunication, everyone wants to be heard and needs a place tovent
their troubles. Therefore, if you know how to listen, encourage, andsupport others properly, communication will be more successful. Consequently, your relationships will become closer and more trusting.
Cultivating listening skills
Focus on listening
Focusing on listening to what others say is a sign of respect. Duringcommunication, distraction or a lack of focus on the story will causediscomfort for the speaker. If you only listen casually without focus anddo not understand what the other person is saying, it means you havenot
immersed yourself in the story. Your focus is also expressed throughyour
emotions, eye contact, attitude, and gestures during the conversation.
Encourage the speaker
While listening, you can express your attitude and emotions to showyour
perspective on what is being said, such as: smiling, nodding, showingregret, happiness, or concern… Or you can use body language likeswaying, shaking hands, placing a hand on their shoulder, or movingcloser… Besides that, you can express yourself with phrases like: “Really?”, “Oh, I
see!”, “What happened next?”… Your expressions will be a sourceof
comfort and encouragement for the speaker, creating momentumfor theconversation, helping them feel willing to share, and makingtherelationship closer.
(Listening skills help us understand and appreciate those around us more)
Respond to the speaker
Just listening silently is not enough; you cannot merely listen throughout
a long story. You need to express interest by responding to the other
person’s statements. Alternatively, you can ask questions relatedtothe
content being discussed to open up the story and help themshare more. Feedback from the listener will help make the conversation more lively.