Listening Skills

Guidelines for Improving Listening Skills

• Increase listening span.
• Take time to listen.
• Give your full attention.
• Restate the message you’ve just heard.
• Avoid hasty evaluation.
• Don’t overreact to content.
• Don’t fake enthusiasm.
• Don’t become distracted.
• Listen between the lines.
• Listen for ideas, not facts.
• Don’t monopolize.
• Adapt your thought speed.
• listen only to what you want to hear.

Listener Responsibilities

• Show interest by your actions.
• Take time to listen.
• Learn something about the sender.
• Get the whole message.
• Don’t interrupt the sender.
• Concentrate on listening.
• Practice listening.

Sender Responsibilities

• Show the receiver that you want attention.
• Be sure the receiver is taking time and is ready to listen.
• Try not to waste the receiver’s time.
• Give the receiver the whole message (what, why, when, where, who, and how).
• Repeat and clarify the main idea.
• Position yourself and the receiver to avoid distractions.
• Look at the receiver.
• Evaluate the receiver’s interpretation.