10 Quick Tips To Better Listening At Work
By: Carthy Ngo
MHSc in Speech-Language Pathology Candidate
The following are 10 quick tips to support more effective listening skills in a workplace, whether that be during a meeting, or an interaction with a colleague. These can apply in-person, or virtually!
1. Minimize distractions
Turn your phone on silent (or better yet, leave it elsewhere), take care of other pressing business beforehand, and find a quiet space! If you’re working from home, this may be particularly tricky because of how accessible everything is, but close all windows unrelated to your work, notify roommates that you need privacy, and clear your workspace of clutter.
2. Come prepared
It’s easier to listen and understand when you have adequately completed your work and taken the time to prepare for work meetings and interactions. This reduces redundancy of communicated topics and helps you understand what you’re listening to in a broader perspective.
3. Rest well
In order to listen with your full capacity, you need to be alert and have mental clarity. Be sure to perform acts of self-care regularly, so that you arrive to work refreshed and ready for the day.
4. Take notes
There is nothing wrong with taking notes while someone is communicating to supplement your listening! In fact, it shows that you care enough to want to remember what you’re taking in. Some people retain information better this way, and it also helps to maintain your attention.
5. Communicate nonverbal information
When we are listening effectively, we communicate this with nonverbal information, such as: maintaining adequate eye contact, facing the conversation partner openly, and nodding. They are all ways to show that you are listening intently without having to speak. These may happen naturally, but otherwise, incorporating them intentionally will help your partner feel heard.
6. Listen to understand
Most of us are guilty of waiting for our turn to communicate when we should really be listening intentionally. When you are thinking about your response while someone is still communicating, you miss out on the rest of their message. Writing down quick notes of what you want to say may help clear your mind in these moments for listening. This also may reduce the likelihood of you interrupting the conversation partner inadvertently.
7. Visualize
While you’re listening, try to picture what you’re hearing in your mind. Often, we are hearing what is said, but we aren’t fully understanding the message. Visualization presents the information in a different form, and also a broader context. The more ways you can process a piece of information, the better!
8. Summarize
This is a great way to check your understanding of what was said. Do this once the conversation partner has finished communicating their message. In a similar vein, you can paraphrase content during an interaction, to show that you are listening.
9. Ask clarification questions
If there is anything you missed or don’t quite understand, it is best to ask questions as soon as possible. If you need more time after the interaction to process what you heard, that’s appropriate too, but don’t feel like asking a question shows incompetence. Asking questions show that you want more information.
10. Be open-minded and respectful
A part of being a great listener is to facilitate an open and accepting atmosphere for the conversation partner. Being aware of the nuances of the topics at hand, demonstrating tact, and responding respectfully can do wonders for your communicative interactions.
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