BEING A GOOD LISTENER
Listening is one of the essential skills in the process of communication. It plays a vital role in maintaining the quality relationship with others.
It is not as easy as saying, “I am listening”. It takes a great deal to be a good listener. This is mainly because, we, the humans, have the capacity to listening continuously hardly for ten to fifteen minutes. What next? Our mind is distracted and diverted by many things around us and many irrelevant thoughts. So, training the mind becomes very important for being a good listener.
Few Do's for being a good listener:
Pay Attention:
- Look at the speaker directly.
- Avoid being distracted by thoughts or the surrounding.
- Listen to the speaker’s body language.
Show that you are listening:
- Nod in agreement occasionally.
- Maintain proper body language.
- Carry appropriate facial expressions.
Avoid interruptions:
- Wait for the speaker to finish.
- Do not interrupt with counter-arguments.