How can listening lead to misunderstanding

For example, purposeful listening actually helps with stress management, boosts confidence, builds rapport, and helps engender trust. Learning to be an effective listener has all-round benefits, and there are no losers. The first step to becoming a better listener is to eliminate poor listening habits. Then comes developing an open attitude and practising positive listening skills. To be fair, apart from conflict resolution and courses related to counselling, most never mention how important it is to listen well.

Effective listening is learnable, and it underpins many of the other skill-sets which people worry about. Effective listening produces better understanding which eases tension, helps the speaker to relax, and though you might not expect it, helps them think more clearly too!

This results in easier collaborations and more fulfilling relationships. When you listen effectively it reflects well on you, the listener. The first step is to identify the barriers to listening. The second step is to consciously implement the tips provided here to overcome those barriers.

Good conversational skills are an asset, and a person with these skills are more likely to achieve professional success. However, talking more than necessary is a barrier to effective communication.

People hesitate to interact with a person who talks excessively without listening to them. They may also get bored, and excessive talking may be perceived as aggression.

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion of feeling, which is usually irrational. Prejudice is very dangerous and has the potential to bring animosity into the team and to break team spirit. Inside your head you might even ask yourself, "What is this person thinking or feeling? Is he or she describing a problem? Offering a solution to a problem? Expecting a particular action?

Looking for help? Relaying information? Strive to understand more than the person's words by looking for nuances in the thoughts and feelings surrounding their words. If you're visual, strive to see the picture that's inside the other person's head. Step Two: Seek confirmation on what you perceived During Step One you may think you understand what's being communicated, but the other person has no assurance that you do, and frankly, neither do you.

Verify your perceptions which are simply "educated guesses" at this point by getting confirmation from the other person. This can done several ways, but usually by asking questions.

Confirmation questions should be genuine ie, not jaded , and should allow the other person to say "yes, that's it," or "no, not quite. If you hear "not quite," ask the person to clarify and then start over again. A noisy environment can create distractions for both listeners and speakers, resulting in possible disruptions to conversations. To minimize noise, turn off mobile devices or place them on silent.

Plan to hold important conversations in a place that you know will be quiet, like your office or a private meeting area. If someone is talking loudly outside your office or making other distracting noises, it is often better to politely ask them to move elsewhere or keep the noise down. To listen effectively, keep deflecting to a minimum and try reflecting instead.

Reflecting involves paraphrasing back to the speaker what they have said. Reflecting assures your listener that you are paying close attention, but it can also help to correct any possible misunderstandings.

Reflecting allows the other person to correct what you may have misheard. In addition to reflecting, asking questions is an effective listening technique. Focus on asking questions based on what the speaker has already told you and are designed to elicit more information. The best questions are nonjudgmental and flow directly from something the speaker has recently said.

It can sometimes be tempting to offer advice after someone shares a problem or concern with you, especially if you want to help them solve that problem. However, wait to advise unless the speaker specifically asks for it. Sometimes people share their concerns in the workplace simply to build bonds with colleagues or to make a coworker aware of a problem.

Sharing issues can be a way to start introducing conversations deeper than small talk. If you want to share advice, think first about whether your colleague is truly soliciting advice or just looking for a way to vent. Here are some additional tips to help you improve your listening skills at work:.