Learn a few active listening tips to help anyone retain more information and become an all-around better listener.
Being an active listener is often an underrated skill. However, effective listening has many benefits, including stronger interpersonal relationships, retaining information, and avoiding misunderstandings. Let’s now discuss a few ways to improve your active listening ability and get ahead in life.
Be Attentive
An engaged listener focuses their full attention on the speaker. It can be accomplished by avoiding daydreaming and not being distracted by extraneous factors like noise or a room being too hot or cold. Rather than that, direct your full attention to the present moment and what is being stated.
Additionally, you’ll want to keep eye contact with whomever you are conversing with or keep your eyes on the speaker if you are listening to a speech. Be aware of tiny nuances conveyed by the speaker’s body language and tone. Again, it demonstrates that you are interested and will help improve the flow of a conversation or speech.
Body Language Cues
These are other factors that should be implemented to encourage active listening. Some examples would occasionally be nodding your head to show that you follow the speaker. Another would sometimes be asking pertinent questions or rephrasing the speaker’s content into your own words to ensure that you understand the message they are trying to convey. Also, avoid doing disrespectful things like continually glancing down at your watch or text messaging on your cell phone.
Avoid Being Biased
Allowing your ideas to obstruct your progress is an excellent way to miss out on some potentially important information. Don’t be under the impression that your thoughts are being attacked when listening to a speaker. It is doubtful that you will agree with what someone else has to say, but you should not allow this to affect the information that you retain. Also, try not to make judgments on what you are listening to. Just follow along with the knowledge and explain your counterargument after the speaker is finished if you disagree.
Give Feedback
It is encouraging to the speaker and demonstrates that you were paying attention. It may be accomplished by asking pertinent questions and paraphrasing what has been stated. As a result, it’s best to wait until the speaker has completed speaking before asking questions. Interrupting the speaker with questions during the lecture might impair your ability to recall knowledge.