Listening skills can help in every area of life. Whether you deal with colleagues or in family relationships or you’ve to console your loved ones, listening is an important aspect.
But not all of us are good in the context of listening. When it seems that you’re listening to the speaker, it is much more rewarding for them. Not only that, but you will also get the most out of that conversation.
That is where active listening skills help. When you’re an active listener, the chances of misunderstanding are less, and it reduces the potential for conflict. In case you wish to join the banking sector, better listening skills are a must.
In this article, we will share details about active listening. In addition, you will also get to know about examples of active listening in the workplace.
Moreover, if you want to work on your listening skills to get enrolled in a banking career, Institute of Professional Banking (IPB) can help you with that.
What Is Active Listening?
Active listening is an approach to focus on the speaker, apprehend their message, understand the info, and respond thoughtfully. Better listening skills can lead you to clearer contact. Plus, it helps build strong relationships with clients, managers, and colleagues.
Active listeners can show their engagement with verbal and non-verbal techniques. Despite supporting the ability to focus, it also helps to ensure that the speaker can see that you are focused and engaged.
Rather than preparing for the later conversation when the speaker gets done, an active listener carefully considers the speaker’s words. They make sure to byheart the specific details without asking the speaker to repeat their words.
With the help of active listening exercises, you can become an effective leader. Whatever the job you are in, a good listener is always admired. If you wish to outshine your competence, enroll yourself in IPB.
Why Is Active Listening Important?
Whether you wish to improve your current role or seek a new job prospect, having good listening skills always helps. In your day-to-day talks with colleagues, in upholding genuine connections as a manager, and in networking, listening can make people feel heard.
People learn to manage emotions, retain data and information better, and resolve conflict. Having better listening skills will work with overall growth. When looking for help with listening skills, get in touch with the team of IPB.
IPB works with a motto to help students become active listeners. As we know, there are myriad benefits of active listening students can take advantage of it. Their pool of qualified teachers strives to lead the students to have better communication with a focus on listening skills.
Advantages Of Active Listening Skills
Active listening skills have several benefits in your life. Much like conflict resolution and critical thinking, this skill can help you increase your potential as an employee.
Let’s have a brief look at the perks of active listening skills:
- Helps Building Trust
When people know they can talk to you without any hitches, icky interjections, or judgment, they’ll be more likely to confess to you. It will help if you’re meeting a new client or business contact to develop long-term relationships.
- Increase Your Knowledge
Great employees are always eager to learn. That’s how they can grow their knowledge base. As active listening helps you retain information, you can understand the topics in a better way. Also, you will recall the things you’ve learned so you can apply them in the future.
- Helps Building Connection
Active listening makes others feel you’re reliable; they will feel comfortable sharing a word with you. When you sincerely listen to others, they will communicate with you on a regular basis.
Along with that, you will get prospects to collaborate with others. And you can start new projects, and your work will be done in no time. These will help you to succeed in your career.
- Avoid Critical Information
Active listeners help you engage with the speaker, you can recall specific details. When the speaker shares instructions or trains you on a new method, you won’t miss out on the critical information.
- Helps to Identify and Solve Issues
Actively listening to others will help you identify conflicts and tests within the projects. When you spot the issues sooner, you will find a solution or create a plan to address them soon. Thus, you can help others with their problems.
10 Active Listening Skills You Must Practice
If you wish to improve your active listening skill, these tips can help. Practice them regularly to stand out from the crowd.
- Show You’re Listening
Smile, nod your head, or make small replies like “yes” and “uh huh”, to show that you’re listening and encourage the speaker to continue. Do not look at your fidget, watch or play with your hair or fingernails. It will have a bad impact on the person talking to you.
- Make Eye Contact
When you’re in a face-to-face conversation, eye contact is essential. Yet, too much eye contact can be harsh, so try taking breaks after every 5 seconds. You can look at one eye for five seconds, then another eye for five seconds. After that, switch to looking at their mouth.
Make sure your posture is open. Avoid any posture which can make you look ‘closed’ or defensive such as crossed arms or crossed legs. Lean slightly forward or sideways to show that you are listening to them.
- Ask Questions
Asking questions is a must to clear any kind of doubts. Even if you think that you’ve processed what they said, you might still have queries. Rise in clarifying questions to make sure you’ve heard the right details.
When you put up an open-ended question, it will encourage the speaker to elaborate on a crucial or impressive idea. It will show that you’re listening attentively and want to know more.
- Steer Clear of Judgement
When you practice active listening, you have to be open, unbiased, and non-judgmental. Being judgmental can make the speaker feel nervous, and they won’t be able to share the correct information from their side.
Taking the steps to become an active listener helps you engage with new ideas, views, and prospects. Avoid criticism and start the conversation with an open mind to get the most out of it.
With IPB, students get involved in active listening. When they move further in their career, it helps them to excel. You must look up to IPB for the preparation of your banking career.
- Don’t Plan The Conversation
It is not possible to plan and listen at the same time. If you do so, you won’t be able to comprehend the details. Planning next will take out the interest from the conversation
As an active listener, you should try to listen first. When the speaker gets done, think and respond thoughtfully. It will make sure that you get along with all the correct details and info.
- Stay Focused
In case you find it tough to focus, try to repeat their words in your head. With that, you will support what they’re saying and help you to concentrate.
Apart from that, try to shut out distractions like other conversations in the room. It will break the tone of your focus, and you will miss out on the essential details. And don’t look at your phone; it won’t entertain the conversation.
- Don’t Interrupt
Interrupting can make the other person feel you don’t have time for what they have to say or that you think you’re more significant. You don’t have to jump in every silence or break. Let them speak, as it will help you to comprehend their message. When thinking of job-ready conversations, IPB has experts to help out.
- Focus on The Purpose of The Conversation
In order to empathize with the speaker, stick to the intent and purpose of the conversation. Including mindfulness in active listening will show the speaker they have your full attention.
When you’re mindful it will show that you’re respectful and aware. Don’t daydream or interrupt, and don’t think about what you’re going to say in reply. Rather focus on their words and body language and take in the details.
- Don’t Force Your Opinion and Solution
Well, that’s not always easy, but try to lend a listening and supportive ear. Listening to the speaker will be much more rewarding than telling them what they should do.
Many people like to come up with their solutions. First, listen to their opinion and solution about a certain thing. If you think your opinion can be more effective, ask if they wish to listen.
- Summarize and Reflect
End the conversation on a high note. Give a brief of what the speaker said. If required, you can also add your opinions in a decent way. In an informal setting, sharing thoughts and feelings may lead to deeper and more meaningful conversations.
Wrapping Up
By implementing these active listening examples in your further conversations, you will develop strong relationships and retain more info with your interactions. But you have to keep practicing in order to improve.
If you’re looking for a group that helps you with your backing career, you can rely on IPB. The dedicated team can help you get enrolled in the banks in no time.
