Listening Skills Part 2... by Donna Durbin
Yesterday, we started a blog on the importance of listening. Did you try changing the way you listen? Do you ask for clarification from the speaker to check your understanding of the main idea they were trying to convey? If you don’t understand the meaning of a word, idiom or acronym, ask. Don’t be shy or reluctant to admit you don’t understand. It’s wise to ask questions.
More Tips to Improve your Listening....
3. Observe the speaker’s nonverbal communication: Fifty-five percent of the verbal message is from “body language,” including facial expressions. Watch for signals, crossed arms don’t always mean the speaker is defensive, disagrees or is insecure. Maybe they are cold. Take in the entire picture instead of focusing on one indicator.
Read more... 30 Body Languages and their Meanings.
4. Monitor your Nonverbal Communication: You have to be careful of the messages you are sending, while you are listening. Body language can speak loudly without saying a word. If the conversation is positive, show it.
However, if the discussion is more negative, you need to practice your “poker face.” Keep your facial expressions neutral. Negative signals may shut down the conversation before you understand the other person’s point of view. That ends any chance for resolution or cooperative interaction.
5. Listen to the Speaker with Empathy: Try not to prejudge, try to see the situation from your speaker’s point of view. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was to listen to a person’s entire point before interjecting my thoughts. Instead of mentally composing your comments, try to focus on the speaker. What are they trying to say? Doing this will immediately improve your listening ability.
Becoming a better listener takes time, practice and commitment.
Here’s a way to sharpen your listening skills. Choose a person that you want to have a stronger relationship with. Start the conversation with an open-ended question that encourages them to express their ideas, opinions and feelings, then listen while you apply the steps above.
Don’t interrupt, give advice or tell your side of the story. Keep the conversation going by showing the speaker you’re listening with verbal and nonverbal signals. Ask additional questions. Be curious, you might learn something new. People often need you to listen to them, before they are willing to listen to you. Give it a try and see how things develop.
Yesterday, we started a blog on the importance of listening. Did you try changing the way you listen? Do you ask for clarification from the speaker to check your understanding of the main idea they were trying to convey? If you don’t understand the meaning of a word, idiom or acronym, ask. Don’t be shy or reluctant to admit you don’t understand. It’s wise to ask questions.
More Tips to Improve your Listening....
3. Observe the speaker’s nonverbal communication: Fifty-five percent of the verbal message is from “body language,” including facial expressions. Watch for signals, crossed arms don’t always mean the speaker is defensive, disagrees or is insecure. Maybe they are cold. Take in the entire picture instead of focusing on one indicator.
Read more... 30 Body Languages and their Meanings.
4. Monitor your Nonverbal Communication: You have to be careful of the messages you are sending, while you are listening. Body language can speak loudly without saying a word. If the conversation is positive, show it.
However, if the discussion is more negative, you need to practice your “poker face.” Keep your facial expressions neutral. Negative signals may shut down the conversation before you understand the other person’s point of view. That ends any chance for resolution or cooperative interaction.
5. Listen to the Speaker with Empathy: Try not to prejudge, try to see the situation from your speaker’s point of view. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was to listen to a person’s entire point before interjecting my thoughts. Instead of mentally composing your comments, try to focus on the speaker. What are they trying to say? Doing this will immediately improve your listening ability.
Becoming a better listener takes time, practice and commitment.
Here’s a way to sharpen your listening skills. Choose a person that you want to have a stronger relationship with. Start the conversation with an open-ended question that encourages them to express their ideas, opinions and feelings, then listen while you apply the steps above.
Don’t interrupt, give advice or tell your side of the story. Keep the conversation going by showing the speaker you’re listening with verbal and nonverbal signals. Ask additional questions. Be curious, you might learn something new. People often need you to listen to them, before they are willing to listen to you. Give it a try and see how things develop.
Accent Reduction Groups begin September 8, 2018
TUESDAY EVENING GROUP: "Take accent reduction from Donna Durbin if you want to be more confident, sound more professional and be better understood." Anna Leonova
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SATURDAY MORNING GROUP: "Donna is a great coach and provides wonderful lessons. I noticed a change in my speaking patterns during a short 6 week course. I highly recommend her to anyone." Yogendra Pandey
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If you don't start...things stay the same.
Learn how to "crisp up" your spoken English, so you correctly articulate the sounds of English, put stress on the correct syllable and word in a sentence. These simple accent corrections make a huge difference in being understood by Americans and improving your communication success.
Think about how confident you would feel for:
Choose One. Each group needs 4 people to begin. Limited to 5.
6 Saturday mornings 10:30-12:00 a.m. September 8 – October 13, 2018
or
6 Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:00 p.m. September 11 – October 16, 2018
$600 for 9 Hours of instruction, includes book. Total payment due in advance.
Learn how to "crisp up" your spoken English, so you correctly articulate the sounds of English, put stress on the correct syllable and word in a sentence. These simple accent corrections make a huge difference in being understood by Americans and improving your communication success.
Think about how confident you would feel for:
- Introductions and small talk
- Phone and conference calls
- Participating in Company meetings and with co-workers
- Giving Presentations
- Providing Customer satisfaction
- Sales, negotiations and business deals
- Management positions and salary increases
Choose One. Each group needs 4 people to begin. Limited to 5.
6 Saturday mornings 10:30-12:00 a.m. September 8 – October 13, 2018
or
6 Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:00 p.m. September 11 – October 16, 2018
$600 for 9 Hours of instruction, includes book. Total payment due in advance.
- Advance Registration and Phone Interview Required.
- Call 713-893-7363 with your name and phone number, email:[email protected] or use SignUpGenius button below.
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