Listening skills and types
Most of our social interactions are involved either you talk –> they listen or they talk –> you listen.
While both listening and talking are important, the order is critical, which means listening first and then talking.
The single most important thing in good parenting is Listening to your children patiently and actively.
In work and travel scenarios, it is very difficult for people interacting with are from different countries and cultures, most people do not realize this and have difficulty in adjusting, this is really a tough problem, the reason is we are not aware of the culture they came from and the nuances of communication traits they acquire through their cultural upbringing, do some research on the culture and communication traits specific to the region of people if you need to communicate.
Here below is a useful link on the above topic.
https://www.chrysos.org.uk/blog/top-ten-tips-for-effective-cross-cultural-communi
Here is a quick note that should help in understanding different types of communication in work and family matters and follow.
Comprehensive listening skills
- Means listening to learn and comprehend.
- Flip the listening switch. Give attention.
- Take notes.
- Separate key ideas, details, and actions.
- Ask clarifying questions.
- The key is to follow up by acting after the conversation.
Active listening skills
- This means listening completely, pre-requisites you must commit by avoiding distractions and making listening a priority, it takes practice.
- Verbal communication, asking the right questions.
- Make small utterances like I hear you indicate you are actively listening
- Responding to what somebody just said.
- Stay focused on the other person who is talking and resist the temptation to talk about something else.
Empathetic listening skills
- Your ability to understand where they are coming from, putting yourself in their shoes.
- Not that you necessarily agree, but it doesn’t automatically solve problems.
- It must be genuine.
- Listen to their verbal and non-verbal clues.
- Reflect on what you are feeling, and say, “I hear you,” and reflect on the positive emotions you experienced.
