Active listening

The importance of knowing how to listen
“Knowing how to listen” means being able to not miss even a syllable of the message that is sent to us.

The important thing is to make listening evolve into an opportunity to extend one's knowledge

If the listener gets the impression that you are not genuinely interested he will not reveal his thoughts to you.

Active listening, mistakes to avoid

• Don't try to come to conclusions right away
• Do not interrupt the interlocutor while speaking

What to do while listening

• Turn your gaze towards the person who is presenting the message, give feedback such as, for example, nodding;
• Show maximum interest in what they are saying;
• Reach out in the direction of the speaker
• Ask questions to clarify and detail the message when the speaker has concluded the message or a section of it.
• Ask exploratory questions aimed at better understanding. Formulate the questions using the same words or similar words to show that you understand.
• If during the exposure your interlocutor makes pauses of silence, do not take the opportunity to interrupt him, as long as the pause is not too long.
• Try to capture the interlocutor's tone, expressions and gestures. Ex: “I bet you found that job very boring”. By recognizing and talking about feelings your employee has tacitly expressed, you can stimulate further upward communication while improving his morale.
• Avoid showing approval or disapproval. If you want me to keep talking to you, you need to be neutral.
• Respect for diversity within the group. Differences and conflicts are what improve the performance of the group.