How To Be An Effective Listener

A good book to add to your 2015 reading list is AMACOM's (a division of the American Management Association), The 11 Laws of Likability.

From the book, here are some great reminders 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

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