Our daily contact with many diverse people and with mass media, leads to continuously being exposed to hundreds of messages. However, the hurdles to receiving those messages correctly are many.
Effective listening skills are one way to encourage better communication between each other or groups of people. It does require concentration and energy on your part, but it becomes worth any trouble it may cause. These skills will allow you to gain insight into other people and yourself.
Nonverbal listening, also known as silence, while someone is speaking is one key element to really hearing what the person is trying to convey. There are those that talk nonstop due to fear they will lose their audience if they pause. However, if the message being delivered is complete, a small break will give you time to formulate a response and help to avoid the larger problem to listening—listening with the answer running.
If the response is made up before the person is done, the audience intended, might miss the conclusion of the message, which is often where the point lies. It is also important to maintain eye contact. When a person is speaking look at them. This shows that you are paying attention, and helps keep the listener’s mind from drifting off.
It is also recommended to display openness with facial expressions and body positioning. This is uncrossing arms and legs, sitting up straight, face the person, and clear any physical barriers that keep you from seeing the speaker. Also let the speaker know that you are still with them from time to time. This can include head nods, yes, and ok. These gestures do not necessarily mean you completely agree with the speaker, but it does show you are paying attention.
When it comes to listening and agreeing, they are two different activities. The goal of the listener is to completely receive the other person’s message. Once the person has concluded their message, you will be able to confidently and accurately understand their point of view, and you are free to agree or disagree.