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 Active Listening; its Skills and Importance in the Workplace

What is Active Listening?

Instead of passively hearing what the speaker is trying to communicate, active listening is when you are fully aware and focus on what is being said.

The aim of active listening is to gather information and listen in order to comprehend people and situations before responding. It is the deliberate decision to pay attention and interpret what others are trying to say without passing judgment.

The desire to listen varies from person to person. The good news is that it is a communication skill that can be learned over time and with perseverance. It's all about focusing, comprehending, and looking at things from various angles for the greater good.

Active listening skills

Basic Skills: The 3 A’s of Active Listening

It's not easy to develop practical listening skills. To improve one's listening skills, one must first understand the dos and don'ts of listening and then act on them. The first step is to learn the three A's, or fundamental listening skills. 

1. Attitude

Attitude is an emotion that arises from the realization that we must respect what others have to say about a fact or state. Also, remember that we can all learn something new from others, even though we have strong opinions or feelings about the subject at hand. We prefer to look beyond our preconceived notions and become better listeners when we respect everyone.

2. Attention

We must pay close attention to be good listeners. However, saying it is easier than doing it. Many of us have a short attention span or are easily distracted. If that's the case, you'll need to do some exercises to help you focus on the speaker. To begin, try mind games or puzzles that keep your attention. Another important tool that helps us maintain our focus and full attention is meditation. 

3. Adjustment

Keeping an open mind is all it takes to adjust your listening. To pay attention to what the speaker is saying, even though it is impossible to understand or has no meaning for you. We often hear great leaders talk about business or life in general. When the subject of conversation becomes monotonous, we tend to daydream rather than adapt. We adapt to the situation and, in the end, become better listeners when we keep an open mind and are willing to spend our time.

Few More Important Active Listening Techniques and Skills

4. Face the speaker

Did you know that facing the speaker or maintaining eye contact is a key component of successful communication in most Western cultures? Nobody wants your undivided attention when they're talking to you, whether it's a friend or a coworker. When you scan the room or talk on the phone while talking to someone, you send the message that you don't value their time, which is rude. While speaking with someone, but all other distractions aside. Set aside your phone, books, papers, and other distractions, face the speaker and try to be fully engaged in the conversation.

5. Use your mind

We've all experienced the difficulty of focusing your mind on the speaker. To stay focused in such a situation, use your mind to make a literal image and abstract concepts. If you're attending a long business meeting or seminar, try to concentrate on the most important points and take mental notes. Allowing your mind to act and be present is all you need to do. Even if it is boring, try to concentrate. If you become distracted or daydream, immediately return your attention to the conversation. 

6. Don’t Interrupt

When you stop someone in the middle of a conversation, you're subconsciously telling them that your voice is more important and meaningful than theirs. Interrupting is not only impolite but also arrogant. If you are bothered or have a question for the speaker, you may need to interrupt him or her, but do so politely. Before interrupting a dialogue in the middle, get permission. 

7. Ensure understanding

Recognize the conversation's goal and the speaker's intent. We have a tendency to derail a conversation with a friend or colleague by asking them questions that are unrelated to the original subject. This conversational affront can be remedied if we are alert enough to persuade the speaker to return to the original subject. This knowledge is essential for effective communication and conveying the correct message without deviating from the original subject. 

8. Be Empathetic

Empathy encourages you to be emotionally present with the speaker and to understand them by putting yourself in their shoes. It will allow you to experience the speaker's feelings, whether they are sad, happy, or frightening. It's not easy to stay present and focused all of the time. Empathy, on the other hand, entails being generous and bringing your soul and heart into the conversation.

9. Give Regular Feedback

Give the speaker feedback on a regular basis to keep them interested. You can't stand or sit still like a robot while listening to the speaker, as this would confuse them. You can use your body language to express your thoughts and feelings, or you can respond with a ‘hmmm' or ‘uh-huh' on occasion. Pose questions that are relevant to the situation. Send your feedback to the speaker at work to clear up any misunderstandings and keep the dialogue open. 

The Importance of Active Listening in the Workplace

1. Building Trust

When you and your employees achieve each other's objectives, you're both satisfied. For an employer, it's an organizational success, while for workers, it's completing the tasks and goals they've been given. For a healthy working environment, it is therefore critical to have mutual trust.

We are aware that in order to build trust, we must check the following boxes:

• To lend a sympathetic ear.

• To be truthful and encouraging.

• To be objective and non-judgmental.

• To be able to communicate effectively.

• To check these boxes, you'll need an understanding, which can be gained through active listening. This will aid in the alignment of your words and actions, as well as the development of trust.

2. Productivity

When it comes to employee productivity, active listening has many advantages.

When upper management fails to listen to workers' opinions and ideas, it breeds resentment and reduces productivity. For a healthy workplace and performance, proper feedback and actively considering the views and ideas of employees are essential. However, it is also critical to ensure that internal communication is strong; only then will they be able to cultivate a culture of mutual trust and understanding. It's always a two-way conversation.

3. Resolves Conflicts

Workplace conflicts and mishaps are unavoidable. This may be due to anything from a minor misunderstanding to a major disaster.

Workplace disputes are often caused by misunderstandings, differing opinions, or a lack of recognition. There's nothing that good communication can't fix. When I say good communication,' I'm referring to active listening.

We often fail to comprehend or respect the viewpoints of others because we never see things from their point of view. Here, too, our sense of self-righteousness gets in the way. Active listening assists us in identifying and appreciating the experiences and emotions of others. This not only aids in the resolution of conflicts but also in the development of a respectful society.

4. Strong Work Relationship

It is critical to establish healthy work relationships in order to have a positive work experience. According to a 2003 study by Faye Doell, there are two kinds of listening: "listening to understand" and "listening to respond."

People who listen learn from stronger bonds and are more empathic in their approach. Workplace relationships are no different. The more people who take this approach at work, the better the working relationships become.

5. Self Empowerment

Self-empowerment allows you to gain trust while also letting go of your goals. You broaden your perspective and empower yourself when you practice active listening and understand what is beneficial for you in the workplace. You become more aware of your workplace, and you interact with your coworkers and organization members with greater ease and trust.

6. Acceptance

Every company has its own culture, and each employee contributes to it. Acceptance is at the heart of this society. Yes, indeed! All of its members must agree to its values and vision.

Employers and employees must be on the same page in order for an organization to succeed. As a result, they must accept each other for who they are and actively listen to each other when performing their jobs.

In addition, during the onboarding process for new employees, management must pay attention to their input and perspectives on various aspects of the company. This reduces their uncertainty and gives them a sense of acceptance.

Active listening is really important in our lives. If you're keen on listening skills, this I’d Rather Be Listening To Smooth By Santana Shirt is for you. 

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