Good Listening Skills Lead to Effective Communications

Being a good listener is a skill and takes practice. More accurately it should be called active listening  skills. Listening does not come naturally, particularly in the business setting where there are so many distractions. In meetings we tune people out; in conversations we often are think about what we are going to say, rather than listening to others in the conversation. In a previous blog I spoke about critical thinking. Critical thinking requires openmindedness and you can not be openminded if you do not listen. Active listening is incredibly informative. Customers tell you exactly what they want. Business colleagues offer different points of view. Speakers give you facts you did not know. Open up to what people are saying and also how they are saying it. When thinking about your own communications you want to make sure others listen to you.  Now the tables are turned. With effective communications people want to listen.