listening

Active Listening:

Focus
Listen for key points and ideas
Do not jump to conclusions
Keep mind from wandering
Ask questions for clarification

Active listening has been defined as listening as if our lives depended on it. Imagine how you would listen to someone talking you through defusing a bomb, or landing an airplane when you're not a pilot! It may not always be a matter of life and death, yet many costly mistakes are made because someone wasn't listening. Active listening is an important skill for personal relationships as well as work relationships. Never underestimate the power of listening!

Reflective Listening:
Indicate your concern for others by stating your interpretation of their underlying feelings. Whether accurate or not, the speaker will most likely let you know.
Example: "You must have been disappointed that your project idea was turned down."
Fellow employee: "Well, yes, but they told me they liked the idea. There's not enough in the budget now, but they will keep it in mind for next year."

Listening Skills

Did you?

+Choose a quiet place without distractions?	-Remain in a noisy environment?
+Maintain eye contact?	-Fail to maintain eye contact?
+Provide non-verbal feedback? (nods, smiles)	-Fail to provide feedback?
+Focus full attention on listening?	-Continue working on another task?
+Listen for key ideas?	-Mentally plan reply (maybe dinner too?)
+Allow speaker to complete thought?	-Interrupt? Jump to conclusions based on part of a message?
+Restate the message, ask questions for clarification?	-Assume you understood the message?