No matter how advanced and fast this world will become, there would hardly be anything that could substitute the importance of good listening in building relationships. It changes your life in ways you cannot imagine: more opportunities, healthier relationships, and fewer mistakes!
The top tip that I can give you for being a better listener is to not focus on being a better listener but to prioritize understanding what the other person has to say. Focus on the word ‘understanding’.
And below mentioned are some tips that will help you improve that understanding quotient in your relationships:
Silence is okay
Even though silences can be uncomfortable, they don’t have to be. We frequently try to fill the awkwardness of silence with talking, but this ultimately prevents the conversation from progressing or becoming more meaningful.
Silences give people time to reflect and gather inspiration regarding whatever is being spoken. It allows us some time to process new knowledge and think about how it affects us emotionally. Additionally, it provides us an opportunity to think about what to say next and the right questions to ask. It enables us to experience vulnerability.
Ask Questions
Make sure the questions you ask are there to help you grasp what the person is saying when you’re listening to them talk about something challenging. The knowledge that one has been heard and understood is one of the most important components of feeling validated.
Ask inquiries about the details you don’t grasp if they’re talking about a situation you have little to no experience with. For example, “I want to learn more, but that sounds incredibly difficult. Can you elaborate on this point for me?”
Don’t focus on having the perfect reply
We presume that the one difficult talk will be the last far too frequently. We believe we only have one opportunity to make the other person feel understood during the talk. Something negative might occur if we are unable to say the correct thing, at the right moment, in the appropriate way. That is simply untrue. In fact, worrying about how to say everything precisely will cause you to lose focus and hinder your ability to listen. Participate in the conversation honestly, pay attention, and be present.
You are not required to be the conversation’s protagonist. More than any counsel you may give, the other person will gain from being heard and respected. You can always chat more at a later time.
Make them feel respected
It’s challenging to confide in someone else. Being vulnerable to another person requires a lot of strength. One of the bravest things a person can do is to express their emotions; doing so is not weak. So communicate that to the other individual. Thank them for being so honest. Express gratitude for the person’s trust in you.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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