Do’s and Don’ts of A Good Listener

Listening is an essential skill in business and life. We could all improve our relationships by improving our listening skills. Below is a list of do’s and don’ts to help you brush up on your listening skills.

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, smiles)
• 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