Make Your Life Better with Active Listening
When you listen to public speakers talk about a certain subject matter, all you basically need to do is open your ears. However, speaking to someone face to face is another dynamic altogether. You communicate with people to get your point across to let them know about how you think and feel. It’s different when you are addressing the audience. Oftentimes, you are too far for them to see your nervous habits, facial expressions, and personal quirks.
But when you have to speak to converse with someone on a more personal level, you have to really become aware of the person. This is when active listening comes into play. Situations like these require a higher level of listening skills. You are required to maintain eye contact, read body language, take note of the silences between sentences, and try not to make too many assumptions.
Why are all these important? First of all, maintaining eye contact lets the other person know that you are interested in what they have to say. They are likely to open up more when the other person shows concern. When it comes to body language, this actually reveals a lot about you are about the person you’re talking to. Don’t slump or fidget, instead, lean slightly forward without invading too much of their personal space. You must be engaging without necessarily scaring the other person off.
Maybe the hardest thing about communicating is keeping quiet. You should leave some room for silence, and mind you, they don’t have to be uncomfortable at all. These may be moments when both parties have to contemplate on what has just been shared. By allowing these moments of silence, you also give the other person a chance to continue without offending them with any form of rebuttal. You are basically required to fully take in everything said, digest it, and then respond to it. Of course, this also means that you already know what they are about to say next. Ideal communication happens when both doors are opened.
Because words are not always perfect mediums to convey meaning, you have to know that people sometimes say less than intended or more than needed. You really need to take into consideration everything about the other party. Your communication will be more effective if you watch for cues. When it is your turn to convey something very important, expect the same kind of respect you’ve given them and make sure that your listener is engaged.
Paying attention to each other’s listening style, you get to build solid relationships and healthy friendships. Because you make yourself aware of the other signs, you may find that you also pick up on their unspoken words. Show interest so that you prompt others to communicate more with you more effectively.
Active listening could therefore be the basis for every friendship. You allow others to open up to you because they know that they will not immediately be judged. Although you cannot always accurately tell what lies behind their words, you will sense that there is something more. All you need to do then to assist them and show that you are sincere with your interest.