It mainly sounds so simple. However, listening is an invaluable and difficult skill. Most people oftentimes took it for granted. And some people know how to listen well and are even better on it than others. Why is it important to be a good listener? Do you have any insights on how to be a better listener?

To listen is not just to keep your mouth shut and let the other talks. More importantly, you digest what he or she is talking about. Good listening or proper listening yields countless benefits advantageous for you in whatever circumstance you find yourself in. If you listen closely, it will be easier for you to follow directions, hear what people are talking “between the lines,” you can give out just the right answers when asked, you can remember facts correctly as well as people’s names, you practice courtesy since not listening to a person talking is an act of rudeness, and above all, you are showing respect and in return, gain some for yourself. Listening intently and seriously to what others are saying is telling them you respect their views, their opinions, or anything they have to say. And to really listen is simply saying you genuinely care.

On the contrary, practicing the habit of a poor listening skill resulted to various unfortunate incidents such as miscommunication, misunderstanding, arguments, bickering and other forms of altercations and conflicts. To abstain and avert anything like these from happening, it will be best if you educate yourself some of the efficacious manners of becoming a better listener.

In conversing with other people, keep it in mind to maintain eye contact to the one who does the talking. Direct not just your ears but your visual attention as well, to the person you are listening or conversing with. Along with this, show off an attentive body language. Attune your body in proper attention. If you slouch, more likely, your attention will slack, weakening your listening skills.

In the middle of some conversation, try to stop and then focus, as in really focus, on the other person. Aim to practice this approach with the next person you will have a dialogue with. Purposely concentrate on what he or she is saying. Do this by leaning forward, for example. You will then notice his or her mood of communication will somehow change as he or she notices your interest.

On the other hand, sometimes in an attempt to be a good listener, you seem to do it wrong instead. Like if someone is telling his or her story, you launch your own similar story too. Well actually, there is nothing wrong with is, but if done repeatedly already like in almost every conversation, this will draw out conclusions of you being self-centered. So beware. A better listening skill is to focus and address the person channeling the information rather than the one on the receiving end.

Have you been into some situation wherein you are in the midst of listening to somebody and all of a sudden, you have this notion that he or she has some agenda hidden? In episodes like this, you will find it quite difficult to concentrate and listen. What you should do is, instead of feeding your mind with guesses and dubious thoughts as the other person is talking, exert the effort to listen and really hear what he or she is saying. You ask cutting questions to carry out whatever underlying motives there are. Possibly, you will realize at the end of the conversation that you were mistaken.

As Stephen Covey, the author of the popular motivational book called “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” said that there are some people who listen with the intention to reply, while others listen with the intention to understand. It is worth pondering, isn’t it? How about you? What is your aim for your next discourse? Or do you intent to practice the mentioned guiding principles on how to be a better listener?