Communication skills
Communication skills are very important during our mid-20s because it is the age where we look for jobs and meet new people. Good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness. The ability to deliver instructions, thoughts and concepts can help you find success in any profession. One of the most important skills in active communication is active listening skills. Listening is one of the important skills you can have as a counselor or as a peer. Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process. My lecturer once’said, ‘You can hear anything, but you can only listen to something intenti’nally.’ Listening is crucial because good listening is the key to connect with people and to build a healthy relationship among your peers and workmates. We listen to obtain information, to understand a statement, to learn and also for our enjoyment. Normally, humans remember between 25% and 50% of what we heard, which is less than half of what the speaker says. But by listening, we grasp the important points of the statement and understand it better. The crucial skill of listening is active listening. Active listening is basically when the person is actively listening to the speaker by giving them their undivided attention. Good listening shows that we are paying attention to theperson’serson’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Firstly, to become an active listener, you have to pay attention. Through active listening, we make a deliberate effort to focus on what the speaker is saying or the mthey’rethey’re trying to deliver. Most of us will lack concentration halfway through a conversation so, in order to stay focused, we need to repeat their words mentally to reinforce their statement, which helps us to stay involved. When the person is talking, look directly into their eyes rather than staring into the wall. This keeps you engaged and focused when the speaker is talking. Try to stay focused on the conversation by putting aside distracting thoughts. Besides, be sure not to get distracted by environmental factors such as having a side conversation with the others listening to the speaker or checking your mobile notification it’sss it’s important. Lastly, pay attention speaker’seaker’s body language.
Another important skills to grasp as an active listener is to show that you are listening. Nodding your head is one of the easiest way to show we understand what the speaker is saying. A simple nod is just a supportive cue and it does not necessarily meayou’re you’re agreeing to what the speaker is saying. Besides, facial expressions such as smiling gives courage for the speaker to continue. By smiling, we are agreeing to what the speaker is saying unlike a nod. Your body posture also tells whether you are interested in listening to what the speaker has to say. So, make sure that you are not laid back to the seat, it should be open and inviting. Another cue that you can make verbally without disrupting their flow is by “aying””I”see”, “” agre”” and “I und”rstand”. This is to show that you are focused and understand them.
Then, provide feedback to the speaker which is paraphrasing the main point speaker’seaker’s meIt’se. It’s because the speaker will know you fully understand their meaning. This will also provide a platform for the speaker to clear your misunderstanding and elaborate their message. For ex”mple, “Sounds like you are “a “ing,”,”Syou’re you’re say”ng is,” should be asked to double confirm with the speakers. Asking questions guides them to sharing more information. Probing questions s”ch as “What do you mean when y”u”say.” “Is this what yo” mean?” helps to clarify certain questions. In addition to that, summarispeaker’seaker’s comments periodically to get a clear picture speaker’seaker’s message.
To become a better listener, we should not interrupt when someone is talking. It irritates the speaker when you cut them half way through and it discourages them to further continue. In fact, we should wait till the speaker complete each point before voicing out our opinions and also avoid countering back. Lastly, we should empathize and respond appropriately as an active listener. It is a way to respect and understand when someone is sharing an information or their emotions to us. We should not attack or put them down in the name of giving our point of view. Apart from that, by listening we are actually gaining information and perspective. Our response should be open and honest but in a respectful way, where it does not attack the speaker. Always keep in your mind to treat a person the way you want to be treated.
In conclusion, listening skills is a basic skill that everybody needs to master in order to succeed in their life. If listening skills are low, communication may be limited, annoyed or frustrated. Better listening skills can promote service provision, increase productivity, and create a better environment for information sharing. Because managers can quickly move between different departments, general management skills are highly required. A great skill that can be transferred to various positions is leadership. Adapting listening skill makes a big change in your life. Your time is best spent in educating yourself in skills that can help you grow and connect with people which will be most helpful in your working career. Everything done in the workplace involves speaking and listening. Two-way communication is crucial in the way it can impact performance and effectiveness. Always rem”mber, “You nevpeople’seople’s fuller attention thayou’re you’re listening t” them.”
