How do you develop good listening skills?

Answer 1

Listening is not the same as hearing. You can hear everything, but still not really be listening, and later on wonder what it was you heard! Here are some tips to improve your listening skills:

• Point your ears in the right direction. The human ears are designed so that if you are looking at something, your ears are pointed toward it, enabling you to hear best. So look at whatever you are listening to.
• Focus. When listening, you should be concentrating on what is being said, not thinking about what you'll have for lunch or what the hot guy in the next row might say. If your mind begins to wander, re-focus and pay attention to what is being said. You can also try shifting your position slightly to break the mental train of thought.
• Listen for the main ideas. If you are listening to a lecture, you can take notes whenever the speaker stresses a point or repeats anything. If you are having a conversation, listen for things like "the thing is ..." or "what I mean ..." - those are good indicators that the person feels that point is important.
• Ask questions. If anything sounds confusing to you, now is the time to ask. If you are in a lecture, you will need to raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged. If you are having a conversation, wait for the other person to pause, then ask for clarification on that point.
• Let the speaker finish. This is especially true of conversations - people "tune out" on whatever the other person is saying and start thinking of what they will say in reply, then jump right in as soon as the other person takes a deep breath. Good listening involves paying attention without interrupting the other person.
• Give feedback. Looking at the speaker is one way to show your interest. You can also nod, show emotion, or (if you are having a conversation) make those little "um-hmm" noises now and then. Making a personal connection results in better communication all around.

More from other Wiki contributors:

• Focus your attention on the information - look in the direction of the speaker (or of whatever you are listening to) so that your ears are pointed the right way for you to hear best - if you find thoughts "popping up" about other things, put your mind back onto the information you are listening to - think about what is being said and concentrate on it
• Be sure you understand - write down any terms you don't understand, so you can ask questions - use a dictionary if you need one - ask yourself questions about what you hear to see if you understand it
• Talk it over with someone - this helps you understand what you have heard, and also brings up new ideas which might help

Answer 2

Develop good listening skills by practicing active listening, which involves giving the speaker your full attention, being nonjudgmental, and reflecting back what you hear to ensure understanding. Avoid interrupting and focus on the speaker's body language and tone to better grasp their message. Regularly engage in conversations and seek feedback to improve your listening skills over time.