Effective Listening Traits

In a couple weeks, AMACOM, a division of the American Management Association, will release Michelle Tillis Lederman's new book, The 11 Laws of Likability. I'm nearly finished reading the advance copy AMACOM sent me and will post a book review soon.

In the meantime, here are some great reminders from Lederman's book on listening -- what to do and what not to do to be a leader who's an effective listener:

Do:

Maintain eye contact
Limit your talking
Focus on the speaker
Ask questions
Manage your emotions
Listen with your eyes and ears
Listen for ideas and opportunities
Remain open to the conversation
Confirm understanding, paraphrase
Give nonverbal messages that you are listening (nod, smile)
Ignore distractions

Don't:

Interrupt
Show signs of impatience
Judge or argue mentally
Multitask during a conversation
Project your ideas
Think about what to say next
Have expectations or preconceived ideas
Become defensive or assume you are being attacked
Use condescending, aggressive, or closed body language
Listen with biases or closed to new ideas
Jump to conclusions or finish someone's sentences

Comments

Effective Listening: Do's And Don'ts

Here are some great tips from Michelle Tillis Lederman's book, The 11 Laws of Likability . They are all about: what to do and what not to do to be a leader who's an effective listener : Do : Maintain eye contact Limit your talking Focus on the speaker Ask questions Manage your emotions Listen with your eyes and ears Listen for ideas and opportunities Remain open to the conversation Confirm understanding, paraphrase Give nonverbal messages that you are listening (nod, smile) Ignore distractions Don't : Interrupt Show signs of impatience Judge or argue mentally Multitask during a conversation Project your ideas Think about what to say next Have expectations or preconceived ideas Become defensive or assume you are being attacked Use condescending, aggressive, or closed body language Listen with biases or closed to new ideas Jump to conclusions or finish someone's sentences

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