15 listening skills examples for your precious benefit

Listening skills and techniques are crucial.  Be it in your personal or professional life, you need them.  Take a look at the examples to illustrate why and how you should take full benefit.

On my self-help blog, I love exploring topics that support my readers.  Having learned and experienced things for years, I always find better ways.  There are many situations when heeding and letting others talk is best.

I’ll list instances to show how doing so brings results.  I’ll also link to 2 Wikipedia articles that explain the theory side.  My blog is more about the practical side of things. 

If you need to learn how listening skills can be improved, take a look at this online course.

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The Power of

Deep Listening 

Learn how to make the most of it, using it at home and work.

To start with, let’s look at some theories, briefly.  I’ll then move to the practical side.  The types of ingenuity, are mainly active, appreciative, dialogic, informative, reflective, and workplace listening.  Find out more here on Wikipedia.

Examples to illustrate

Personal life

1. Emotional support. At home, with close ones, or with your pals, communication is informal.  When you’re used to people, you feel at ease.  It’s important to show support in times of need and crisis.

2. Boost morale.  There will be circumstances when your strength can make someone feel better.  These could be big events, such as losing a family member.  It could also be just that your kin has had a bad day at work.  Being there while they share what they feel makes a positive difference.

3. Therapy.  Sometimes professional help is essential.  This can happen to anyone.  Taking sessions with a licensed person who is well trained could be required.

4. Dinner with family.  When with family at dinner.  Enjoy the moment.  There’s too much distraction.  Sadly, even when people sit down at a table, they could still be looking at screens.

5. Put your phone away.  We all do need this necessary tool and device.  It has so many uses that make our lives easier.  However, when someone needs your attention, they may deserve being a priority.

6. It’s often said that infants sometimes feel neglected when parents use their phones.  These tiny beings want to be given attention.  It makes a significant difference to them. 

If you want to dive into polishing your dexterity more deeply, do take a look at the online course. 

The Power of

Deep Listening 

Professional life

7. At the office.  I highlight why listening skills are important in the workplace.  You might not have the same emotional bond with colleagues, compared with close ones.  The same goes for your boss (if you have one).  However, taking the time to comprehend is primordial.

8. Empathy is crucial.   You may or may not feel sorry, sympathize, or agree with someone else.  You still absorb their point of view and show understanding.

9. Leadership style.  A true leader values team members.  Although the ultimate aim is to meet team goals, you also need to motivate members for better team spirit.

10. Teamwork.  You could be a formal leader, such as a Manager.  If not, an informal one who instead naturally attracts followers.  People believe and look up to those who they trust and believe in.

11. Soft skill.  This one is in high demand.  For example, with a good level of emotional intelligence, communication is better.

12. Effective communication.  There’s much chaos and with that comes confusion.  When you take the time to be attentive, you can better comprehend.  This potentially helps to avoid future mistakes and misunderstandings.

13. Key know-how.  It takes time and experience to improve.  Some techniques can support you.  I’ve seen that following a few simple steps has helped me.

In brief, take a look at these points:

• Provide your full attention
• Demonstrate that you’re all ears 
• Give feedback regularly
• Leave behind any judgments
• Respond agreeably

This is a  handy technique that follows a logical and natural order.  I was once working with a team in the corporate world.  I had to guide my members and looking into things was a must.   

Sharpen your listening skills and techniques.  Point out the essentials, and try to paraphrase, clarify, and summarize.  Not only do you need to comprehend, but the other person should express themselves clearly. 

14. Minimize barriers for better results.  Move away from noisy places and other distractions.  Sit comfortably and relax.  Stay focused and concentrate.  

15. Use body language to show that you’re present and eager to know.  For example, have good eye contact.  A nod from time to time to show you understand.  Smile to show warmth, encouragement, and support.

It’s vital to take the time and lend an ear.  In some situations, it can be a professional requirement to understand what happened.  In others, it could be a family member or friend who needs a shoulder to cry on.  

The list of situations could go on.  What’s important is to use the talent and make things work.  Sometimes it comes naturally.  If not, you could choose to develop the habit.

Conclusion

These were some handy ways to show how important paying attention is.  Through examples, I illustrated how it helps.  If you feel that you need a better grasp, do enroll in the active listening skills online course.