Enhance your listening skills in the workplace

In today's dynamic and constantly evolving workplace, the ability to listen attentively has become more crucial than ever. The ability to listen not only facilitates effective communication, but also strengthens interpersonal relationships, promotes problem solving and drives innovation. In this article, we will explore the importance of listening at work and provide practical tips and strategies for improving this essential skill.

Who are the people who do not know how to listen?

People who cannot hear generally have some common characteristics, including:  

1. Lack of attention: They seem distracted during conversations, often looking at their cell phone, watch or other objects around them, rather than focusing on what is being said.  
2. Frequent interruptions: Tends to interrupt others while speaking, not allowing them to complete their thoughts or points of view.
3. Premature responses: Often begin to formulate a response before the person has finished speaking, which can lead to misunderstandings or ineffective communication.  
4. Lack of empathy: they show little or no empathy for the other person's feelings or perspective, which can be perceived as disinterest or insensitivity.
5. Deviation from the topic: They tend to change the topic of conversation to something that interests them more, ignoring what the other person was saying. 

Some people have difficulty listening effectively for a variety of reasons. Inattention is often a major factor, as internal thoughts, environmental distractions or electronic devices may prevent you from concentrating on what is being said.  

A common difficulty that causes people to have difficulty listening is the fact that our brains try to do many different things. We assimilate physical sounds and visual cues, decode them into language, assign meaning, relate what we hear to what we already know, and then evaluate what we think about it all.  

In addition, we are formulating our response, listening when we have our turn to speak and share our thoughts.

To improve listening skills, it is critical to identify and address these underlying issues by developing mindfulness, empathy and effective communication techniques. 

You may also like: How to be a true leader?

Do you pretend to listen, or do you really want to listen?

People often pretend to listen to conversations for a variety of reasons. This can happen when they are distracted, disinterested in the topic, or have already formed an opinion before the conversation is even over. Pretend listening involves feigning attention, such as nodding or making eye contact, without absorbing or understanding what is being said. This behaviour can lead to misunderstandings and a lack of effective communication.

To be a good listener, it is essential to be eager to listen. This means being genuinely interested in what the other person has to say and trying to understand their perspective. Listening with intention requires empathy, patience and an open mind. When someone wants to listen, they actively participate in the conversation, ask pertinent questions and provide appropriate feedback. Wanting to listen is the key to building meaningful relationships and promoting effective communication.

So, what's the secret to good listening?

Wanting to do it. It's as simple (and as hard) as that. So, before you go into a meeting or talk to someone, take some time to think:  

• What is my goal in this meeting?
• How can listening help me achieve my goal?
• How can listening help me listen in this way?
• What can prevent me from listening and how can I overcome it?

These questions will help you become more aware of listening and how it can help you. It will also prime your brain, preparing you to listen because you want to, to listen with the intention to understand. By focusing on our motivation, we can all improve our listening. Try it and see the difference it can make.  

Hays professionals are ready to support you and your business today and tomorrow. Contact our experts today.