Are you good at listening?

You know a lot about others by what they say and what they say. So if we are good listeners, we can learn a lot about people, their intentions and interests. Active listening is essential when understanding others; Hearing is a sensory ability, but listening is a social skill.

By actively listening, we capture what the other person is trying to convey and we support them to continue talking and opening up to us. It is essential that the other perceives that we understand them and that we do not judge them. Definitely, Knowing how to listen is one of the best qualities we can cultivate as people.
Within communication everything counts, not only what we say, but our gestures and our body expression in general. Knowing how to read beyond the words, in the gestures of others, is of great help.

Sometimes, we hear what we want, just as we see what interests us. In the end, we look for confirmation of our expectations in the words of others. Logically, with this panorama, misunderstandings and misunderstandings are the order of the day.

The problem is that sometimes we react according to what we think the other person means. Therefore, if we have grasped it wrong, our reaction will be inadequate. Consequently, conflicts may occur that neither party intended.

Are you good at listening?: The benefits of active listening

The benefits of active listening are the following:

Better understand what is expected of us Develop a more intimate, close and genuine relationship with our co-workers, family, friends, partner… Solve problems more easily Capture underlying meanings

Communicating more effectively

By actively listening we obtain many benefits, but how can we improve in this aspect? We present some brief ideas about it:

1. Be patient and calm

Give your interlocutor time to express himself calmly.. Not all people are good communicators, and some need their own time.

2. Try to concentrate on what you are doing

Don’t be thinking about what happened yesterday or what you have to do next.. Don’t do three different things at the same time while listening. Focus on the present moment, on what is happening. Practicing Mindfulness can help you cultivate full attention and be more aware of the present moment.

3. Focus on the person you are listening to

This is essential: don’t be thinking about what you are going to say next. Sometimes it happens that, instead of listening to others, we are only listening to our own thoughts, internally affirming or denying everything they tell us or confirming our hypotheses. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes.

4. Don’t let your mind wander

Try not to get distracted, pay attention to the other person and stop thinking about things unrelated to the conversation. Focus on the words, gestures, expressions and emotions of your interlocutor. You will see how the conversation will take a qualitative leap.

5. Ask questions

This is a good way to start the conversation with another person and give them a chance to express themselves. Asking questions also shows interest, and that always enriches any conversation.

6. Summarize what you have heard

This is a great way to clear things up and encourage conversation. Returning the message we have captured in our own words, not only We show that we have paid attention and interest, and we also help clarify the message.

7. Observe body language

Observe the other person’s body language and expressions. Go beyond his words. It happens that, often, with gestures we express what is impossible with words. Additionally, most communication is non-verbal. Being receptive to it makes you have conversations at a very high level.

8. Don’t interrupt

This is something very unpleasant for someone who is trying to communicate an idea. In fact, it’s good to pause for a moment before speaking. This It will help the other person feel that there is no rush and that you are really listening to them.

In short, it is very important that we learn to listen to others, but although it may seem like something very simple, it really There are very few people who know how to truly listen, with a sincere interest in what the other has to say.

If we make an effort to listen actively, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain, because This single detail can change our lives and our personal relationships. After all, who doesn’t like to be listened to and understood?

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