Module 28 - Team & Personal Development Series - What is Active Listening and How to Become a More Effective Listener?

What many people are struggling with today is lack of active listening. Lack of active listening is experienced and can be observed anywhere: business, school, outside interactions

​Why is it a such a big problem today?

In today's environment we have easy access to many different outlets for information gathering: books, e-books, internet, social media, TV, radio, and many others. All of the sources that were just mentioned are all available to us in our own smartphone. Therefore, we tend to get sucked into a particular piece of technology without noticing anything or anyone around us, whether it is one of our colleagues at work or our family member or friend at home. Sometimes we may have someone speaking to us for several minutes and we don't even notice until after it is too late, because, we were paying attention to an email or news article we were reviewing on the phone or pc vs. listening.

​How likely is that the same person would be willing to repeat what they had just said again, or sharing their opinions/feedback with you again? Very unlikely. Why waste valuable time when you are not being listened to? No reason at all. That is where the problem with lack of active listening lies.

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There is a solution...

One way to solve this problem with active listening at work is to follow these few very simple steps:

• ​When someone is speaking with you, stop everything that you were working on, put away your cell phone, turn away from your computer, and focus on the person that is in front of you
• Pay close attention to what is being said and take notes
• Do not interrupt
• Take notes of questions you may want to ask at the end of the conversation
• When clarification is needed, politely ask for clarification to ensure complete understanding

​At home or outside of work:

• Stop staring at your phone or computer when someone is speaking with you and focus your full attention on the person in front of you
• Turn away from TV and look at a person speaking with you, or even better, turn off the TV
• Do not interrupt

​By following these few very simple steps at work or at home, you should significantly improve your active listening skills. What is also important to understand is that you have to commit to following these steps every time, every day, not just once.

​Active listening has several benefits, such as: people will be more willing to come and speak with you and share their feedback, ideas, and suggestions, important and critical information can be uncovered by listening and taking notes, reduction in the number of unnecessary follow ups to understand information is needed, greater bonding and understanding among family members and friends, which often leads to happier you.

​Practice active listening daily at work with your colleagues, employees, your business partners, and at home with your family and friends, and continue to grow yourself personally and professionally. Good luck on your leadership and personal development journey!