Are You Really Listening?
As I’ve shared in my courses on Emotional Intelligence, listening skills are very important to a person’s overall success. If you aren’t a good listener, you probably don’t have strong emotional intelligence which can limit your ability to be promoted, close a sale, or build a strong network.
Let’s face it. Can you honestly say that you really listen to what people are telling you, or do you just think you’re listening? Unfortunately, too many leaders and business owners are not listening as attentively as they could to their clients, their employees, or their peers.
So how can you tell if you are a good listener?
One way to know is to ask yourself if you can summarize what the person has just told you. If you aren’t able to do this, then you weren’t really listening.
Listening is an empowering skill to have. Beyond it being important in emotional intelligence, it actually helps to improve your personality and makes you more intriguing. If there not many good listeners, then by mastering this skill, you would stand out as unique and special.
So how can developing better listening skills can help you in your professional life? Let’s say you aren’t very happy with your current work role. By listening attentively to discussions at work, you may hear of an opportunity that is opening up, a new position for example. This new role might just be the perfect fit for you. Now you have advance notice and can take immediate action to express your interest and showcase your skills relevant to the job.
Even if you are not looking for a new role yourself, you could pass this information on to someone you know who is. As we all know, job openings fill up quickly these days and being able to know about a role prior to it posting on LinkedIn or Indeed can have a leg up in getting an interview and possibly the job.
Another way use your listening skills at work is to pay attention to unraveling situations. Maybe you notice that your peers aren’t getting along or bickering about a project. By noticing their issue, you may be in a position to diffuse the situation or notify someone who is thereby helping to minimize workplace disruptions.
Or you might hear of someone who is struggling to learn a new software program. If you know the software, you could offer your help out. By doing this, you not only show what a great team player you are, but you are also showcasing your leadership skills.
By working on enhancing your listening skills, you’ll be able to take action before others. If you are looking for a promotion or to close a deal, this one skill could be your ticket in obtaining it.
As others notice you are more attentive and truly listening, your reputation at work will improve. This will help you build better relationships with your peers, customers, and other leaders.
Want to know more about emotional intelligence and the skill of listening?