According to Mindtools.com, people only remember between one-quarter to half of what they hear. This means we don't get much out of half of our conversations. It is important to develop good listening skills in order to enhance your relationships and sharpen your ability to make wise decisions.
Identification
Developing good listening skills means putting your entire focus onto what your conversation partner is telling you while tuning out the distracting noises that might be taking place nearby. Developing listening skills means asking clarifying questions to make sure you have fully understood what the other person has said without judging the message the other person is delivering to you.
Function
Developing listening skills helps you understand information more deeply and develop insights into specific situations that might demand novel approaches. Listening deeply to another involves hearing what is underneath the surface of what someone says to you. It is a matter of interpreting the other person's body language and tone of voice in addition to the words the person uses to express himself.
Features
You can tell whether someone is trying to develop listening skills by the nonverbal messages and amount of eye contact they use to show you they are paying attention. A sign that someone is listening carefully is when the person asks questions to clarify any points you have made. This communicates the fact that the person would like to make sure she has understood you properly.
Benefits
Developing listening skills can pay off in many important ways. It helps you understand more clearly what is expected of you at work, which can increase your chances of success on the job. Developing good listening skills can also help you create more meaningful relationships with your friends and family. In school, developing better listening skills can help you interpret challenging topics and increase your chances of earning high grades. Developing good listening skills can make you feel like a more trustworthy person to others.
Considerations
To develop better listening skills, start by maintaining eye contact with whomever you are listening to. Tune into his vocal tone and body language for clues as to how he feels in the moment. You can also summarize or paraphrase what someone has said to you by repeating what you understood to be the meaning of his statement. Though it might feel silly to repeat the same statement in slightly different words to the person you are listening to, you will be surprised how respected and understood it can make someone else feel to hear you paraphrase their statements. It is also a fine way to prevent misunderstandings.
