Listen Up!

I know this guy who doesn't listen at all. I'm not sure where his head is, but during meetings he tends to ask questions about something that has only just been discussed. He appears to be making notes, but when he is invited to contribute, he has no idea what anyone is talking about. Recently, he showed up for a meeting that had been cancelled a week in advance, claiming to have never "heard" about the cancellation. Seems to me that he could benefit from beefing up his listening skills!

Good listeners don't have to face the embarrassment or the inconveniences that this fellow does on a daily basis. By simply choosing to focus on the point of contact, we can train our brains to hear, process, and retain the information we need to function at our best every day. Here are four easy steps that you can use to enhance your listening ability.

Respond to Thought: Demonstrate your understanding of what the speaker thinks by responding with: "You think that..."
Respond to Feeling: By responding with, "Sounds like you feel _______ about this situation", you show that you understand the emotional impact of an event.
Respond to Thought and Feeling: "You think _________ and that makes you feel _________."
Respond to Personal Significance: This is the most valuable of the responses because it shows that you "get it"! A response in this category might sound like this: "You think _________ and you feel __________ BECAUSE (insert personal significance or meaning).

By being an active listener, you show people that you have a genuine interest in what they have to say. That will garner you respect, and will ultimately attract the kind of people that will show you that same respect in return.