Are people always complaining that you never seem to hear what they say? Unless you have a serious ear infection or are actually going deaf, the art of listening is not so hard to re-learn. Just try out these steps and see how things work out:
Step 1: Practice Active Listening
Just because you hear something, does not mean that you have understood everything you just heard. Do not take it for granted. It is quite easy for us to get distracted by the most routine things. You might find yourself thinking about what you are going to wear for that party tomorrow while your boss is briefing you on an important task at work.
To avoid getting distracted it is important to practice active listening. Do not simply reply on just hearing the words, listen to them and try to process all the bits of information coming your way. Consciously urge yourself to listen, and keep your mind focused. Do not let it wander off.
Step 2: Reinforce the Message
If you find it difficult to focus, then the art of listening can be challenging, but you must keep trying. Mentally repeating everything a person tells you is another way to improve listening skills. This is fairly similar to taking down notes. This is one of the best ways to reinforce the message in your head, and this will lessen the chance of you forgetting it later on.
Step 3: Do not Interrupt
Remember to keep your thoughts to yourself until the person speaking to you has finished. This will ensure that you have heard everything in full. If you interrupt, not only will it take a toll on the speaker, but on yourself as well. If you are worried that you will forget the questions you want to ask, just jot them down and ask them at the end.
Keep in mind that cultivating the art of listening is fairly easy – all it needs is a fair amount of perseverance on your side and commitment to keep at it.