Page 19 - VoicesJan2015 .pub
P. 19
e You Listening—Continued from page 18) When they take a breath, don’t jump in
and take over the conversation. The key is
we can also tune it out, shoving it into the to listen to understand, not to respond.
background. Unfortunately for our Active listening is hard work. It requires
relationships, we are also very good at you to give your full attention to the
shoving conversations into the
background. speaker. It requires you
Listening, on the other to take in the
hand, is the absorption information you’ve
of the meanings of heard, process what to
words and sentences do with it, and then,
by the brain. Listening and only then, make a
leads to the decision on what to do
understanding of facts next.
and ideas. It requires The next time you
concentrating on the attend a presentation,
speaker, problem whether in your
solving, and decision Toastmasters club, at a
making. And that’s why public event, or a meeting with your
it’s the hardest skill to master. employer, use these techniques to
Here are three techniques that will help improve your listening skills. If you use
you become a more effective and active these techniques in your own
listener. communications, you will be well on the
Focus on the Speaker— Set aside what road to becoming the active listener you,
you’re doing, and face the speaker making your employer, and your family and friends
eye contact. Put down your phone, turn want you to be.
away from the television, and take your
fingers off the keyboard. Give the speaker Phyllis Harmon is a member of Wallmasters
your full attention. International, Toastmasters for Speaking
Use body language and vocal cues to let Professionals, New Horizons, and TV Toastmasters.
the speaker know you are listening— She joined Toastmasters in 2008, and is the current
Nodding, leaning towards the speaker, District 7 Governor.
using appropriate facial expressions, as
well as verbal cues are excellent ways to `Toastmasters are educators, whether
let the speaker know you’re paying they realize it or not, and Toastmasters
attention. is more than a club—it's an education
Let the speaker complete what they (Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, August 1950)
have to say—don’t interrupt the speaker.
19
and take over the conversation. The key is
we can also tune it out, shoving it into the to listen to understand, not to respond.
background. Unfortunately for our Active listening is hard work. It requires
relationships, we are also very good at you to give your full attention to the
shoving conversations into the
background. speaker. It requires you
Listening, on the other to take in the
hand, is the absorption information you’ve
of the meanings of heard, process what to
words and sentences do with it, and then,
by the brain. Listening and only then, make a
leads to the decision on what to do
understanding of facts next.
and ideas. It requires The next time you
concentrating on the attend a presentation,
speaker, problem whether in your
solving, and decision Toastmasters club, at a
making. And that’s why public event, or a meeting with your
it’s the hardest skill to master. employer, use these techniques to
Here are three techniques that will help improve your listening skills. If you use
you become a more effective and active these techniques in your own
listener. communications, you will be well on the
Focus on the Speaker— Set aside what road to becoming the active listener you,
you’re doing, and face the speaker making your employer, and your family and friends
eye contact. Put down your phone, turn want you to be.
away from the television, and take your
fingers off the keyboard. Give the speaker Phyllis Harmon is a member of Wallmasters
your full attention. International, Toastmasters for Speaking
Use body language and vocal cues to let Professionals, New Horizons, and TV Toastmasters.
the speaker know you are listening— She joined Toastmasters in 2008, and is the current
Nodding, leaning towards the speaker, District 7 Governor.
using appropriate facial expressions, as
well as verbal cues are excellent ways to `Toastmasters are educators, whether
let the speaker know you’re paying they realize it or not, and Toastmasters
attention. is more than a club—it's an education
Let the speaker complete what they (Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, August 1950)
have to say—don’t interrupt the speaker.
19
