Individual Listening

“It takes a great man to be a good listener.” 

― Calvin Coolidge

In this age communication is much important than it ever was. Listen is the important feature of
communication. But we devote our less time to listen others. Genuine listening has become rare.
Although listening is process which can be helpful for an individual to build relationships, ensure
understanding, resolve conflicts and improve accuracy. As being a receiver listening is very helpful skill
to get the information of communicator.

For an active individual listening, you must have to follow these steps.

1. FACE THE COMMUNICATOR AND MAINTAIN THE EYE CONTACT

Eye contact is considered a basic ingredient of an effective communication.

The eye contact technique makes you to focus on the face of communicator.
This helps to make focus on what a communicator saying. This technique
satisfies the need of attention in listening process.

2. BE ATTENTIVE BUT RELAXED

When you made an eye contact, relax. You do not have to stare the communicator
fixedly. The important thing is to be attentive. You should ignore the distractions
like background activity and noise. You should be attentive in this way that you
cannot distracted by your own thoughts, feelings and biases.

3. KEEP AN OPEN MIND

Keep an open mind when someone is saying something you don't agree with. Listen
without judging the communicator. As you start judging a communicator you
compromise with your effective listening skills. Remember that a communicator is
using the language to convey his feelings and thoughts in the form of message. You
can only find those thoughts or context, when you listen firmly.

4. LISTEN TO THE WORDS AND TRY TO PICTURE THAT WHAT THE COMMUNICATOR IS SAYING

Allow your mind to create a mental model of information being

communicated. This will make you to not get bored and you can listen in
better way. But don’t let other thoughts during listening the
communicator.

5. DON’T INTERUPPT AND NOT IMPOSE YOUR OWN SOLUTION

Children use to taught that it’s rude to interrupt. Same in listening process, you
should never interrupt the communicator while listening. Interrupting sends a
variety of messages.

Like:

 “I am more important than you.”

 “I don’t really care about what you think.”

A communicator does not want any of your solution while communicating. But you can listen to the
communicator to understand his prospective. Because every person has its own thinking. If you have
really brilliant solution or idea, you can may ask the communicator before proceed.

6. TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMUNICATOR IS SAYING

When you listen efficiently you must try to understand what the communicator is actually conveying.
When you try to understand the message of communicator you just pay more attention and listen each
word efficiently. This makes your listening more effective and useful.

7. PAY ATTENTION TO THAT WHICH IS NOT SAID (NON-VERBAL CUES)

When listening remember that words convey only the fraction of message.
Communicator uses many non-verbal ways to communicate his message. This can help
you to understand the theme of communication.

8. WAIT FOR THE COMMUNICATOR TO TAKE PAUSE TO ASK CLARIFYING

QUSTIONS

While listening do not interrupt the communicator if you have any doubt.
But you should wait for the pause. Maybe in this process you listen more
and clarify your point. If not, you can proceed at the pause.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion we can sum-up that individual listening is the part performed by listener which has its own
importance in interpersonal communication and professional communication.

Reference:

 https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2012/11/09/10-steps-to-effective-
listening/#5fb3de343891