We all know that listening is probably the first thing you should do
in order to better understand your peers, your environment, followers,
or whoever you need to communicate with. And of course, leaders are good listeners, or should be.
To Listen, Write
A good excercise to improve your listening skills is to take notes.
What? To write while listening? Exactly, the thing is you’ll be forced
to understand what you’re writing because you write at a lower rate than the rate you talk. So, you’ll have to synthesize. When you summarize concepts you’re forced to THINK, and of course you’ll have to listen to get the new information in your head and then summarize it. You won’t get distracted by random thoughts while in a conversation, you’ll be busy writing down the ideas you’ve got from the talk.
A good way to start is work meetings. If you have the chance to assist to a meeting with three or more people is a good way to stay in focus because the others can do the talking, and you THE LISTENING.
STEP 1: TAKING NOTES
1. Take note of the time the meeting started.
2. Write every idea you find useful, and write down who mentioned.
3. Every time the conversation has a twist, or goes into another main point. Jot the the time again.
4. Repeat until the meeting finishes.
5. Take note of the time the meeting finished.
STEP 2: After you return from the meeting:
1. Check how long the meeting was.
2. What was the longer to deal with issue? Was it worthwhile to discuss the issue so long?
3. What is your position about the subject?
4. Do you think your notes are accurate?
The key with this is to do both steps, at the meeting and after the meeting. At the meeting you’ll listen, after the meeting you’ll learn and foster the new behavior.
YOUR TAKEAWAY
If you do this at least a couple of times, you’ll notice something interesting you’ll feel compeled to listen, even more, you’ll feel forced to, because you’ve seen the results. That’s it.
Remember, Be Alert, Be A Leader 
7 comments
Very very imortant technique–Writing really helps in listening and understanding—I would like to add another area in it and that is being prepared for the right QUESTIONING —Questions can be framed in adavance in the light of various types of questions such as Open ended or closed ended, loaded questions ,mirror questions , laundry list questions,hypothetical questions , etc .Also listener should also have the ability to help the other person come back on the track again
i need some advice towards become a leader for a practical life.
taking notes actually help in understanding the subject,besides listenning skill.leadreship does not mean to understand another person through listenning only.
thank you
Syed, Great point. Questions are really important, and as you said there are open ended, and close ended questions. Both of them have a different goal. I’ll write about it on my next post. Stay tuned..
Rajender, My first guess is check out the 3-minute-leadership section of the site, there’s a lot of tips there for you to explore. My first advice would be, ask yourself what do you want? after knowing that you’ll find your way. Thanks for asking.
Tameemuddin, I agree with you, listening is not the only skill / ability you need to foster in order to understand others, but probably is one of the most important skills. Empathy is probably another skill you need to work on to understand others as well.
Manju, you’re welcome. In fact, I have to thank you for stopping by and reading the post.
Remember, the goal of the website is to expand the knowledge about leadership. There’s a lot of leadership theory on the site as well, I feel privileged for having the chance to share my vision with you, as well as I nurture mine with your comments and impressions.
Remember my friends,
Be Alert, Be A Leader
– Ken
Just listening would not help, need to keep the track of the notes to keepon analysing in subsequent meetings -Thanks
Ravi
Writing, listening are the main types of communication module. In order to become perfect writer or attentive listener, one should has BIG aim/purpose for it. Here ability to listen correctly and writing without any mistake – will make intelligent leader.
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