How can I use active listening in Business?

How can I use active listening in Business?

When talking to a person, making eye contact and simply listening may seem like you are using active listening but it’s actually not that simple. First, let me introduce you to several “what not do’s” when you are listening to a person;

Pseudo Listening is you are pretending to listen to the person but you’re not you are instead thinking of other things. Relating to what the person is saying to your own experiences as if you were rating the person with points. Showing expressions as if you where mind reading the person. Rehearsing in your head a clever response to say about what the person is mentioning.

Hearing only that is convenient to your knowledge and then wondering off thinking about other things. Filling gaps with words or remarks every time the person pauses. Labeling the person in a category that you feel the person is suitable for before the person finishes explaining.

Finally responding to the person’s emotion with jocular remarks such as “Relax it’s not the end of the world” or other remarks in that matter. Does any of these examples sound familiar? We’ve all experienced conversation like these, either we where listening to a person or someone was listening to us.

Try avoiding such behavior when listening for it causes great fatigue to the person speaking, Have you ever experienced these examples when you where speaking? How did you feel? You probably didn’t like it, now imagine when you behaved in such way when the person was speaking, the person probably didn’t like either. By avoiding this behavior when the person is speaking to you it will certainly achieve great results.

The Art of Listening

When using active listening not only do you want to listen to the person but try to feel and fully understand the words. You also prove you where listening by restating what the person said, you can start by mentioning, “What I understood is...” Also, once in a while, you may want to ask the person to clarify to what he already mentioned.

Finally if you feel you have to express an opinion do so but after the person is finished talking. It is understandable that present factors may occur when trying to use active listening, such as your worries, either small or big everyone deals with problems. Your worries may not let you focus on what the person is saying. Emotions can present itself as a factor such as grief, anger, and depression when you are trying to deal with it when a person is talking to you.

A language barrier is definitely a factor especially when the person speaks a different language. Pollution of noise is another factor, how can you be active listening when the area is cluttered with noise? Boredom, maybe the person speaking isn’t considered enthusiastic and may cause you to feel boredom. How critical the factors may seem active listening can still be done, by practice. Practicing is the key to fully apply active listening in your life and or in your business.