Motivational

Rule 39: Be a good listener

August 26, 2016

Son of Late Yoruba Linguist & Politician, Chief Ajibola Ige, Architect Muyiwa Ige & blogger, GDA

I
don’t mean you should provide a nice padded shoulder for all and sundry to come
and cry on. In fact that probably isn’t
good listening but therapy. A good
listener is someone who makes the speaker know that they are listening. You do this by:

·
Making
encouraging noises – hmmm, go on, yes,
I’m listening

·
Displaying
appropriate body language – head tilted to one side, eyes open and looking at
the person speaking, not yawning or fiddling with your watch.

·
Repeating
back some bits to make sure they know you’ve taken them in – on Friday at 3, yes, I’ve got that.

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“GOOD
LISTENING IS A SKILL, A SPECIAL TALENT THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PRACTISE AND
LEARN”.

·
Getting
them to repeat things you haven’t heard or understood – can you repeat that bit
about Peterborough, I’m not sure I
was taking that in?

·
Asking
questions – so the move to Gloucester
will not happen now?

·
Taking
notes – write stuff down as they speak.

Now
why would you want to be a good listener?
I said, now why would you want to be a good listener? Easy.
You get:

·
More
facts

·
A
better understanding of what you are supposed to be doing.

·
A
better grasp of what is going on around you.

·
Seen
as sympathetic and considerate.

·
Seen
as intelligent and alert

·
Seen
as someone on top of their job

If
you don’t listen you don’t know. If you
are going to listen make sure they know you are. Easy.

Good
listening is a skill, a special talent that you will have to practice and
learn. It doesn’t happen overnight and
it isn’t automatic. You have to think
about it and catch yourself when you aren’t listening and turn it on then.

(Excerpts from THE
RULES OF WORK by Richard Templer Read “How to Speak Sense to your work force” from The Rules tomorrow on Asabeafrika)

Rule-to-Work Series