Tips for Being a Better Listener at Work

What makes a good listener? A good listener is someone who has the ability to ignore distractions, process information and ask questions to further understanding. In the workplace, a good listener can build relationships built on trust, and gain a better understanding of friends and co-workers.

Lackluster listening skills can be costly when information is going in one ear and out the other. Repeated miscommunications can ultimately ruin a company's reputation. Becoming a good active listener at work may seem like an easy task, but it takes daily practice to truly master, especially if listening doesn’t come naturally to you.

Here are four tips to improve your listening skills:

1. Ask More Questions

There is no better way to show the speaker that you are listening than to ask questions. The most ideal questions are ones that help to further the conversation, such as open-ended questions. Asking questions about challenges can help to identify potential opportunities to help.

2. Maintain Eye Contact

Listening with your eyes is just as important as listening with your ears. A good listener gives all their attention to the speaker. Looking everywhere besides the person speaking tells them that you are uninterested and focusing on other things. Look at the speaker even if they are not looking at you. It tells them that you are invested in what they are saying. As a rule of thumb, you should maintain eye contact for 50% of the time while speaking and 70% of the time while listening.

3. Repeat Back What You Heard

Repeating back what you just heard is an important part of active listening. This process will help you to clarify what you heard and allows the speaker to make sure that what you heard is what they intended to say. In communication, it is important that feedback is flowing in both directions. Just don’t overdo this- you don’t want to derail a conversation by constantly repeating everything you hear!

4. Be Aware of Nonverbal Cues

Being aware of gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice will help you to understand the speaker's delivery of the message. Does the speaker seem impatient or eager? Being able to understand non-verbal cues will be the difference between a happy customer and an unhappy customer. It is also important to be aware of your own non-verbal cues.

The ability to listen is one of the traits of an outstanding leader. Making these tips a part of your everyday work experience will help you to become an excellent listener and build more professional relationships.