10 Ways to Immediately improve your listening skills

Take notes under each of the 10 skills below as you listen to the speaker.

1. Avoid internal and external distractions.

Take some notes on any internal and/or external distractions you had while listening to the

speaker. What did you do when you realise these distractions?

2. Listen to the content of their speech.

Summarise the content of the speaker.

3. Listen to the context of their speech.

How does the content of this speech relate to the speaker? What do you think they want

YOU to take away from their speech? Have you heard about this speaker covering similar

topics elsewhere?

4. Listen to the tone of their voice.

What tone/s does this speaker use? Provide some examples. Was tone an important part of

their delivery? Why do you say this?

5. Listen for the emotions the speaker is likely

experiencing.
What emotion/s does the speaker show? Provide some examples. Was their emotion an

important part of their delivery? Why do you say this?

6. Pay attention to their body language and make

appropriate eye contact.

What non-verbal communication does the speaker show? Provide some examples. Was their

non-verbal communication an important part of their delivery? Why do you say this?

7. Provide small verbal encouragements and don't fight

silences.

If you were listening to this speaker live, at what moments might you have provided some

small verbal encouragements? What exactly would you have said, and at what moments?

8. Ask open-ended questions to encourage elaboration.

What open-ended questions would you ask the speaker to encourage elaboration?

9. If you need them to slow down or want specific info, ask

close-ended questions.

What close-ended questions would you ask the speaker?

10. Offer affirmations that the person has made valuable
and important choices.

What affirmations would you provide the speaker about what they have said and the

decisions they have made?