Why active listening is an essential skill
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At all levels of seniority, at every stage of one’s career, and in virtually all fields, active listening distinguishes itself as a skill that is as essential for success as it is rare.
The ability to truly listen — with focus and an open mind — demonstrates that you are capable of putting your own worries aside in order to focus your attention on someone else. Effective listening is also a way of demonstrating your emotional intelligence, as well as the respect that you have for the person speaking.
In order to better appreciate the importance of active listening, imagine that you go to the doctor because you are experiencing worrying symptoms. As you explain to the doctor what you are experiencing:
do they appear to be giving you their undivided attention?
do they give you enough time to convey all of the information that you consider relevant?
do they give you the opportunity to ask every question you have?
If the response to all of the above questions is “yes”, chances are you will leave the appointment reassured and confident you have received the best advice possible. If not, you will perhaps leave wondering whether any decisions fully took into account everything that you considered important; you may also have some doubts about the quality of advice you received.
This example also helps to understand why your ability to listen effectively can impact the stress levels of those around you. Trying to communicate to someone who demonstrates through their actions and words that they are not really listening, whose responses suggest that the speaker’s words are being distorted by the listener’s priorities, or — perhaps even worse — who does not even allow the speaker to finish their sentences, can be a supremely frustrating experience. Conversely, someone who demonstrates good listening through verbal and non-verbal cues reassures the speaker by indicating that they are fully paying attention and trying their best to understand the situation from the speaker’s perspective.
Furthermore, active listening is an effective means of strengthening relationships with those around you. Giving someone your full attention is an indication of respect, and conveys that you believe that what that person has to say is important enough to put aside your own worries while the speaker discusses theirs. When you ask relevant questions designed to better understand the speaker’s perspective, rather than simply satisfying your curiosity, the listener feels understood and, hence, closer to the speaker.
Listening is a fundamental skill, regardless of your profession or level of experience. What could you do to develop this, as well as other key competencies? Click here to get in touch with Jon in order to discuss. If you would like to know more about his background and qualifications, you will find everything you need to know here.