4 Ways to Develop Better Listening Skills in the Workplace

listening skills

As it is the cornerstone of a successful conversation, listening is an essential skill for every employer and employee. It is also part of the most important managerial skills you need to possess.

A successful listener will not only effectively take in information but will make the speaker feel heard, understood, and respected.

Not sure how your listening skills measure up in the workplace? Read on to learn four powerful ways to develop better listening skills the next time you need to be an active listener.

1. Ask Relevant Questions

Asking well-timed and pertinent questions shows the speaker that you’re listening and interested in what the person has to say. For example, asking the right questions is what connects Maryland attorney Alex Brown to his clients and allows him to find the best solutions to their issues.

In many situations, only by asking the proper questions will you gain the information most relevant to you. This can be tricky, as you’ll need to find a way to break into the conversation to ask your question without creating a jarring interruption. Though it will depend on circumstances, it is a good rule of thumb to keep your questioning sparse and well-thought-out to avoid the appearance of interrogation.

2. Use Positive Body Language

When you’re spoken to, turn to face the speaker so they feel like they have your full attention. If you are standing, it’s best to turn your whole body toward the speaker so that your torso and even feet are pointed in their direction. While it may seem awkward to do this from a seated position, it can be just as effective to move or spin your chair to face them.

In the case of multiple speakers, say in a back-and-forth conversation with coworkers, try to orient your body or chair as if you were to face an imaginary person standing in between them. Simply turning your head to face each speaker in turn effectively demonstrates your attentiveness.

You can also use body language to give the speaker non-verbal responses. While this is often done subconsciously, making a conscious effort to slightly exaggerate your facial expressions can be used to give your coworkers and supervisors easily discernible feedback without having to interrupt the flow of their dialogue. For example, furrowing your brow will indicate your confusion, whereas nodding your head softly will indicate that you are following along agreeably. Be careful not to over-exaggerate your reactions, however, as this will discredit the sincerity of your body language. The ability to read facial expressions does not come naturally to all, so check out this article if you need a refresher. 

3. If You are Confused, Say Something

Not all your supervisors and coworkers will have spectacular cadence and articulation, and so it’s common to misunderstand or miss something they said. What’s more, there will likely be some discussion topics that are complex and require further explanation. While nodding your head and staying silent may seem the path of least resistance, taking this approach won’t make you an effective listener. It is far better to admit your confusion and ask for clarification than for the speaker to discover you aren’t understanding what is said. It’s all too easy for the speaker to tell when you’ve checked out of the conversation, and it’s likely they’ll feel a sense of disrespect and disappointment that you’ve disregarded the importance of the information given. They may also assume that you weren’t listening from the get-go. Moreover, research shows that expressing your misunderstanding can demonstrate modesty and even intelligence.

4. Comment When Appropriate

Similar to asking questions, making comments can provide valuable feedback to the speaker. In some circumstances, it may even be appropriate to demonstrate your comprehension by summarizing what the speaker has shared with you. While this would be redundant in shorter conversations, in longer conversations — such as when you’re being given instructions — this information round-up shows the speaker that you understand the directions and are committing them to memory. When making other comments, it is best to let the context of the conversation dictate when it is appropriate to interject.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking with an employee, supervisor, client, or even your spouse: Strong listening skills will improve the quality of your relationships. Not only will you retain more information, but you’ll also show respect and better attention to the speaker. If you aren’t already applying these ways of bolstering your listening skills, try making a conscious effort the next time an important conversation arises.