Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM August 2017 | Page 33

[email protected] Have you ever wondered why we have one mouth but two ears? Maybe it’s because listening can be more difficult than talking. Studies confirm that we forget a lot of what we hear, but let’s not be too hard on ourselves. It has to do with how our brains are wired. The average person can speak at a rate of 125-175 words per minute, but listen at a rate of up to 450 words per minute. And, apparently the average person can think and process information much faster than he/she can listen. As a result, our brains sometimes wander. Much of business training focuses on effective speaking, but active listening is what truly makes us good communicators. This can take training and practice. Let’s look at what makes up active listening: 1. Hearing: Paying sufficient attention to grasp what a speaker is saying 2. Comprehending/Understanding: Putting a meaning or a context to what you have heard 3. Assessment: Asking yourself if what you heard makes sense. Is it believable? Is it doable? What are the implications? Ask questions to clarify points or issues and continue to actively listen. That’s good communication. Consider levels of listening performance or underperformance at work. Hearing half of what is said contributes to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and errors in performance that may waste resources or have even more serious consequences. All in all, it creates situations in which frustration and anger can thrive. So what can we do? There are several remedies. None are 100-percent foolproof, but if practiced in earnest and with conscious intent, they should aid considerably in improving your listening skills. Here are some ideas: · Focus, focus, focus on what is being said! Give your undivided attention! Do not look out the window, think about what is for lunch or be distracted in any other way. If you note your attention being diverted, try changing the position of your body (sitting or standing) or shift your weight from one foot to the other (if standing). This takes self-awareness, practice and determination. · Focus objectively on what is being said. Emotional involvement in an issue could be a barrier to good listening. You may hear what you want to hear and formulate responses or judgments based on less than a full understanding and assessment of everything that actually was said. · To indicate that you are listening, use minor body language such as a nod or make a simple statement like “OK, I understand.” · Let the speaker finish speaking before you speak. · Ask clarifying questions when necessary. Make sure you understand, especially when you believe things have been left unsaid. · Pick out the main ideas and concepts you believe the speaker wants to get across. Listen for phrases such as “my point is…” or “what you need to remember.” · Take notes. · Try restating in your own words what the speaker said to make sure you have grasped clearly what the speaker meant. Your mind is a powerful tool if employed properly. It has been estimated that about 60 percent of communication is listening. Learn to do it well!