Discover how to improve your listening skills

In the article "3 aspect of your life that requires you to pay attention to listening"  we discussed the importance of listening in our day to day life. However, it happens that even when you try hard to listen at times you  just can't do it. This often happens because of of anger or the overwhelming desire to say what you have in mind.
What are you expected to do when listening becomes hard at times?


Consider this scenario:

  A man gave birth to a baby boy. He didn't send him to school, he barely spends time with him, all he does is to feed and lock him up in his room every day. What do you presume will happen to this boy as time passes? Reserve your answer.........Now consider a second man who also gave birth to a boy, but on like the first man. He sent his son to one of the best schools, he spends quality time with him teaching him all he can as a father. From the above scenario, which of the boys will be more intelligent and smart? You will agree it was the latter. Now bring your mind back home. Take the boys in the scenario to be your ability to listen effectively, what do you think will happen to that ability if it were to be the first boy in the scenario? Such ability will gradually become less effective or even die off. So in conclusion, for your listening skills to be more effective and never fade out, it needs to be improved. Just how can you improve that skill of yours? The answer too can be drawn from the scenario above. Like the second man in the scenario, you have train that skill by making use of it on regular bases. Practice makes perfect they say. So by regularly practicing listening at all cost, it will become part of you and you will grow to become a good listener. Below are some benefits you will enjoy as a good listener:
  1.You will prevent argument in your daily conversations. Argument often arise during our conversations with others, one can not avert it, but then by cultivating the attribute of good listening. You can at times prevent argument that may arise.
  2. People will always be willing to speak to you with the full assurance that you will listen carefully to them. To you personally, can you really spend your time and energy in talking to someone, who is not ready to give you a listening ear? Of course not, so you see why it is essential for you to always listen to others.
  3. You will benefit maximally from any talk you listen to. This is one of the greatest benefits, since gaining something is our main motive of listening.
  I only pointed out 3 benefits in this article, but there are countless benefits that result from listening.

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6 listening skills you need to succeed as a student

For you to be a good listener, it is very important for you to develop the skills for effective listening. Below are six (6) skills that a good listener must cultivate:

  SKILL 1. Stay in a position that is convenient for you.

   During lectures, there are always obstacles of distractions.

Consider a class room for example. You well know that not every student in the class room pays attention while lesson is on, but more attention will come from those in the front roll..

Sitting behind in the class room if you are easily distracted will not be helpful, instead sit in a place where you can hear and see the teacher clearly. This will make you not to easily lose focus, in addition doing this will help you to take part in class discussions.

  SKILL 2. Look at the speaker.

  Many have concluded that they can listen to a speaker while they look elsewhere. Though this is true but you will not get all the information the speaker conveys. Why? Because speaking does not only involve "talking", but facial expressions and body movement. When you do not look at the speaker you will never get all information the speaker passes through these other methods of speaking. And as a result you will not benefit maximally.

  SKILL 3. Mentally respond to questions and also listen to comments carefully.

   The speaker often ask questions during discussions, by mentally responding to such questions will enable you not to lose focus. While other people give their comments, it will be wise for you to listen carefully to get their own point of view.

  SKILL 4. Take brief notes where and when necessary.

  Taking notes of important part of discussions will help you to summarize and clarify any doubts which may arise.

  SKILL 5. Look for objective of the talk.

 This skill will enable you to see things from the speakers view point and as a result you would not go off the track.

  SKILL 6. Isolate points that you will readily apply.

  There are specially parts of discuss which may affect you personally, Isolating such points will enable you give more attention to applying them.

These are the skills that a good listener must possess. Cultivating these skills will make you to gain maximum benefits from your daily discussions.  

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