Listening Rules

Journal

Rules to enhance listening skills (Scarnati, 1998)

• Concentrate on listening to the other person from their point of view. Pay attention and keep an open mind. Listening requires physical as well as mental energy.
• Listen first for the major points and then listen for the facts that give them credibility. Pinpoint the key facts. In a brief format, make notes of the key facts.
• Keep your mind on the speaker and don’t let it drift.
• Make and maintain eye contact. Let people know they have your full attention.
• Let the person talk. You know what you’re thinking but you don’t know what the other person is thinking. Withhold judgment until the speaker is finished.
• Be observant. Nonverbal messages are often as important as verbal messages. Focus on the area around the eyes and hands. They are the most expressive area for sending nonverbal messages.
• Occasionally, provide summary feedback with a recapitulation statement to make sure the person said what you think she or he said (i.e. What I hear you saying is…). Ask for details and clarification as needed. Otherwise, be frugal with your questions.
• Minimize distractions and interruptions. (i.e. phone calls…). Unless necessary, don’t interrupt the speaker.
• If possible increase the comfort level by removing physical barriers such as desks, tables…
• Control your emotions and be objective. Learn not to react to the meaning of emotionally charged words. You want to receive a message, not argue a point.
• Listen for meaning beyond the spoken words. Sometimes meaning is found between the lines and not in what is said.
• Demonstrate patience. Many people are not articulate and have difficulty expressing ideas.
• Reschedule the meeting if you run out of time. Don’t keep glancing at the clock. It’s a dead give away that you are not listening.

Scarnati, J. (1998) Beyond technical competence: learning to listen, Career Development International. Vol. 3, Iss. 2, pp. 79-81

Reflection

These are a few rules which I aspire to follow in order to develop my listening skills, althought not all of them are relevant to my current enviroment, knowledge of all of these will enhance my skills for the future.