How to enhance active listening skills?
THE four essential skills in learning English as a language, or more importantly as a subject in school are reading, writing, speaking and listening. When it comes to listening, what do you think does it take to actively listen? Students must know as early as high school when their minds can digest topics and lessons of a deeper value that graduates are employed or are hired when they can perform their active listening skill among many others.
What does it take to be a good listener? Not for anything but students must understand as early as high school their professional route and looks forward to growth and stability in that direction, because the ability to listen effectively is an essential component of leadership. Students who will graduate to be professionals should move with leadership goals in mind, not the leaders who boss around but direct employees to a better course. There are a few leaders though who know just what it takes to become a better listener. You can improve your ability to lead effectively by learning the skills for active listening.
Active listening involves paying attention, withholding judgment, reflecting, clarifying, summarizing and sharing. Each listening skill requires several techniques or behaviors.
Research studies conducted have contributed another skill set to an active listening repertoire. First is the skill of paying attention. Active listening must aim to set a comfortable tone and allow time and opportunity for the other person to think and speak. Pay attention to your frame of mind as well as your body language. Be focused on the moment and operate from a place of respect. Second skill is to withhold judgment. Open mind is required in active listening. As a listener and a leader, you need to be open to new ideas, new perspectives and new possibilities. Even when good listeners have strong views, they suspend judgment, hold their criticism and avoid arguing or selling their point right away. Third skill is the skill to reflect. Learn to mirror the other person’s information and emotions by paraphrasing key points. Don’t assume that you understand correctly or that the other person knows you’ve heard him. Reflecting is a way to indicate that you and your counterpart are on the same page.
Fourth skill is to clarify. Don’t be shy to ask questions about any issue that is ambiguous or unclear. Open-ended, clarifying and probing questions are important tools. They draw people out and encourage them to expand their ideas, while inviting reflection and thoughtful response. Fifth skill is to summarize. Restating key themes as the conversation proceeds confirms and solidifies your grasp of the other person’s point of view. It also helps both parties to be clear on mutual responsibilities and follow-up. Briefly summarize what you have understood as you listened, and ask the other person to do the same. Last but certainly not the least, is the skill to share. Active listening is first about understanding the other person, then about being understood. As you gain a clearer understanding of the other person’s perspective, you can then introduce your ideas, feelings and suggestions. You might talk about a similar experience you had or share an idea that was triggered by a comment made previously in the conversation.
To this end, researchers were able to conclude that if you apply the 6 skills required for active listening, you will not only be known as a good listener, you will become a better leader as well. ( Paid article)