How to be a better listener

Teach: How to be a better listener

What to say

To be a better listener, put your phone away, let the person finish without planning your reply, and reflect back what you heard: so the new boss keeps moving your deadlines. Ask open questions, and ask whether they want ideas or just want to vent before offering fixes. Resist turning it into your own story, and sum up at the end so they know you got it.

What to show, in order

1. Put your phone face down or away, and turn toward the person.
2. Let them finish their sentence and their thought before you speak.
3. Show you are following with short prompts such as go on, or and then what.
4. Reflect back what you heard in your own words and check you got it right.
5. Ask open questions that start with what or how.
6. Ask whether they want suggestions or just need to talk, and respect the answer.
7. Hold back on your own similar story until they have finished.
8. Sum up at the end and ask if there is anything you can do.

The check question

Ask: What should you ask before offering solutions? Answer: Whether they want ideas or just want to be heard

From EveryManKnows. General information, not professional advice.