PROBING AND LISTENING 2

Listening to others means you care about them. When you care about people, you will earn their support and respect. Even if you do not help the other person solve his/her problems, listening to them makes them happy. Everyone feel important when they are listened to, including you. If you care about others, they will care about you.

Business executives need to learn listening skills. In school, we are taught Physics, Accounting, Commerce, Mathematics, and English among others. We are taught the important life skills that help us win with people. Nobody may teach you listening, probing, negotiating, selling and presentation skills. But we use these skills, however, on a daily basis. I am yet to meet a great leader who does not have these skills.

Listening endears you to customers. Companies just feel better about companies that value their opinion, Workers want management to listen to them. It is only by listening to customers that you will leverage on what their needs are per time. Consumer needs change per time. Never forget that.

Listening helps the other person feel comfortable with both the process and the outcome of the conversation with you. Generally, most people prefer talking to listening. We perhaps, grew up that way. If you come up with a suggestion after listening to someone emphatically, he/she will accept. So by listening to others, you make your words count upfront.

Most of us talk than listen. Imagine you are in a situation. You want to take your kids to school early and get to work on time. How would you feel if you discuss the issue with your best friend and she does not listen to you? You may be surprised that the other person has her own issues and she wants to tell you about it. Everyone has something he/she wants to talk about.

Listen to others if you want them to listen to you. Steven Covey, the author of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People advised “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Listen to people without being distracted. Your employees will be happy, and perform better if you listen to them. By listening to other person, you communicate that you are interested in what they are saying and put your idea secondary to theirs. This attitude will likely take you to the next level in your career.

It is unethical to interrupt others. If you are busy and someone is rambling, do not tell him/her to shut up. Ask a question. You may summarize everything the other person has said before asking your question. Take for instance; you can tell a friend “I understand you want to go shopping next week. You want to attract more customers. I’m wondering if this is a good time to discuss that.”

Listen actively. Listen to others as if they are the only person in the world. Reduce distractions and inner dialogue. Time spent listening to your friends is not wasted; rather it is a seed. It is the quality of your seed that will determine the quality of your harvest. Listen to others the way you want them to listen to you.

Invest in people’s emotional bank account. Do not forget that customers just feel good about organizations that value their opinion or suggestions.

You will make more friends and influence more people by being a good listener. Do not wait for the other person, so you can say what you have on mind. That is different from listening. Be genuinely interested in what your friend is sharing with you. Show empathy. Put yourself in his/her shoes; see the situation from his/her point of view. That is empathy.

Listen to others. You can learn from anybody. From some, you will learn what to do. From others, you will learn what you should not do. Do not ignore the security officer. They may have vital information for you.

Listening shows that you care. It endears you to people. It makes others comfortable, while talking with you. Everybody wants to be listened to, so by default, we find it easier to talk than listen. It is unethical to interrupt while others are talking. Instead, listen actively.

Agbolade Omwole runs interpersonal skills trainings for corporate organizations.
Contact:
nigeriaslifecoach@gmail.com
101youngentrepreneurs.blogspot.com


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