Effective listening is a valuable skill in the advising profession. In this video, you will hear two tips related to listening more effectively.
Tip #1: Eliminate distractions. As much as possible, minimize noise, interruptions, and temptations when you are in meetings or conversations with others.
Tip #2: Get into "The Mindset of Listening". Ask yourself 5 important questions to help improve your listening behavior outlined from Dorie Clark's LinkedIn Learning Course about improving listening skills below:
The Mindset of Listening
We’d all like to be better listeners, but it can be hard to break the habit of only half-paying attention to
others. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help make your new behavior stick.
What’s Your Motivation? Why do you want to improve your listening skills? Has poor listening become
a problem at work, or in your personal life? Visualize how being a great listener will help you become
a better employee, friend, or romantic partner. Think about how appreciative—and maybe surprised—
others in your life will be, and what a difference it will make for your relationships.
How Are You Demonstrating Your Interest? For obvious reasons, people want to feel like you’re
interested in their perspective and feelings. Think about the ways that you’re currently showing your
colleagues or friends that you care—and how being a better listener can aid this process.
Do You Understand the Real Problem? If you’re not really listening, you’re probably missing the full
story, and only seeing part of the problem. Remember that before jumping to conclusions, and remind
yourself about the importance of taking in all the facts.
Why Is That the Case? Humans are naturally curious—so let’s tap into that. Why is something the way it
is? Why does this person feel that way? What’s really behind this disagreement? Let yourself be fascinated
by people and situations so that you can listen fully and ask the right questions.
What Are the Consequences When Someone Doesn’t Feel Heard? Remind yourself of the downside
that you’re trying to avoid: When people don’t feel heard, they shut down and start to resent you. Don’t
let that happen. Instead, embrace listening fully, and everyone will reap the benefits.
You can access Dorie Clark's full course on "Improving Your Listening Skills" and related files on LinkedIn Learning.
