5 Tips to Help You Be a Better Listener

There is a saying that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. So, why is it that we are a society of such poor listeners? It seems that not only are people poor listeners, but they also have the volume controls on the mouths set on high. Everyone is trying to talk over the other person or people around them.

Here are 4 tips you can use to become a better listener.

1. How many times have you been introduced to someone for the first time and not even one minute later you can not remember their name. This is an example of listening and not hearing. The key here is to repeat the name several times out loud in conversation in the next few minutes. This commits their name to your memory and people like to hear their own name so you are creating a pleasant feeling for them as well.

2. A good listener is interested in what the person they are talking to is saying. Even if it is the most boring subject in the world you can find something to be interested in about it. You do not have to mimic what they are saying to you, but paraphrasing every now and then will keep you involved in conversation and appear to be a good listener.

3. A good listener does not dominate the conversation. This does not mean that you allow the conversation to be dominated either. People that dominate a conversation are boring and do not care about anything except the sound of their voice. They are not good listeners.

4. A good listener can tune out distractions on concentrate on what the person they are talking to is saying. At a party this can be easier said than done, but a good listener has the ability to focus on what they hear being said to them. Concentration is a big part of being good at listening.

5. Part of being a good listener is knowing when to speak. Silence is part of every conversation and it is natural to not interrupt if the person you are talking to is not finished with the thought they are speaking about. In sales it is said that the person who speaks first loses and that is why all good salesmen will ask a question and then be quiet until it is answered.

These are 5 good tips you can use to be a better listener. Using these will help you at work, with your friends, and to have a better relationship with your significant other.