Effective communication requires active listening. But it is difficult to remain engaged, for the simple fact that your brain processes words 5 times faster than people speak them. This podcast provides many techniques which will dramatically improve your engagement and therefore understanding of what is said.
The topic of Communication Skills is a vast topic. It includes both visual, auditory and kinaesthetics parts which can be broken down into words or body language, touch, feeling and so on and so forth. It’s a very interesting topic and it’s something, which is very important for any executive, manager and indeed the people that work for them.
I have looked at communication skills in the past with some ideas on how to introduce people, in fact that was the very first podcast I did. We have spoken about the tone of your voice, particularly during presentations and meetings and it is valid for other situations. In some of the listening skills which I talk about that, I am going to give particular emphasis upon people who are using English as a second language, because those people need a little bit of extra help when it comes to active listening in a language which is not their mother tongue.
Listening Skills
* The Greatest and Easiest Gift
* Listen Intently + Focus on Every Word
* Genuine Interest ( A Choice )
* Result = Feel Respected, Greater Self Esteem, Feel Important
* Problem – Our Mouth vs Our Brains
* Solution = Active Effort
* 80% Listen 20% Speak
* Speak to Clarify, Demonstrate Understanding by Paraphrasing
* How to Improve Your Focus?
* Choice of Words, Emphasis, Tone, Silences, Repetitions, Body Lanaguage
* Adopt the Listening Position – Meetings !
* Other Tricks:
* Listen in Real Time
* Listen with your Ears and Eyes ( Some say Heart too: No)
* Give Phatic Feedback but Be Comfortable with Silence
* Smile, Nod, Frown, Laugh
* Make Notes
* Don’t Interupt Unless to Encourage Bottom Line First
* Pause Before Replying
* The Above Helps Your Listening and Understanding Not the Reasons
* Emotions
* Feelings etc
* Too Busy / Difficult to Be Concerned about Reasons
Questioning Skills
* Practising Questions is Crucial
* In English the grammar is tough !
* It Gives others the Opportunity to Express Themselves
* Three Types of Questions:
* Open Ended Non Specific – “Tell me about…”, or “Describe…”
* Encourage Speaker to Talk, to Open up and Saves Energy
* Open Ended Specific – “Who, What, Where, When, Why”
* Acquire Specific Information
* Closed Questions
* Check Understanding
* Never Be Afraid to Ask – Don’t Ever Feel Stupid !
Gossip and/or Negativity
* Almost Everyone Gossips at Some Point
* But Given the Negative Connotation it can cause Upset and Disruption – Office Affairs
* Spreading Gossip or Negative Information Creates Resentment
* As the Boss Never be Part of It:
* Example: Extra Workload.
* Example: Old Colleagues.
* Gossip can be Professional, Helpful,
