Do you know someone who hardly allows you to participate in the conversation. Someone who barely lets you get in a word edgewise? Well, I love being a Realtor, a calling I discovered later in life as I'm on a second career. And like many Realtors I know I tend to be very social, outgoing and gregarious. I'm talkative. Listening is not my strong suit - it's not a skill taught in school. Therefore with the hopes of becoming a better Realtor, and person, I decided to work on learning a new skill. I just completed an Effective Listening Course. The following are a few Rules for Listening:
- Concentrate on the speaker really focus on their words. (Don't worry about framing your response.)
- Give the speaker positive reinforcement by nodding or uttering small agreeing sounds..mmm, yes
- Do not interrupt the speaker or finish their sentence. (you never know, you maybe on the wrong track.)
- Do not forget body language - leaning towards the speaker conveys interest. Lounging back in your chair may indicate disinterest.
If this rings a bell for you, you maybe that someone I referred to at the beginning of this post. I finally realized there is a good reason "God gave man(or woman) two ears but only one mouth."
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