LISTENING TO YOUR TEAM / 285
Getting the message
Start by trying to see things from the
speaker’s point of view, and let your
actions demonstrate this. Show interest
with your body language: look the
speaker in the eyes and maintain an
open and nonthreatening posture.
Give the speaker physical signs of
Listening regularly to difficult
material to hone your
listening ability
Giving your full and undivided
attention to the speaker
Listening to the argument in the
speaker’s terms, and in the order
he or she wishes to follow
Focusing on the reasons for the
speaker’s approach and discussion
Assuming that everything
interesting should be provided
in written form
Pretending to listen while actually
doing something else
Criticizing the speaker’s delivery
and interrupting the flow of what
they are saying to ask questions
Assuming you already know what
the issue is and how to resolve it
LISTENING ACTIVELY
Do’s Don’ts
your undivided attention: close the
door, hold your calls, and put aside
whatever you’re working on.
Listen carefully to how something
is said: look out for hints of sarcasm,
cynicism, or irony in what you hear.
Try to tune in to the speaker’s mood
and intention. Communication is a
shared responsibility, so it is up to you to
ensure that you understand the message.
Once you have listened to what a
person has to say and clarified anything
you’re not sure of, evaluate the facts
and evidence. Ask yourself whether
the evidence is recent, reliable,
accurate, and relevant.
To become a better listener,
you need to stop talking,
stop trying to carry on more
than one conversation, and
stop interrupting and let
the other person speak
US_284-285_Listeneing_Effectively.indd 285 30/05/16 3:04 pm