Active listening as an important element of successful communication

Communication in professional everyday life is still to a certain extent ubiquitous, and in some cases even conflict-ridden, when, for example, there is not enough communication or "people are kept at a distance". The technology of active listening can offer a remedy here. According to the motto – listening is the art of remaining silent at the right moment – the following should be done when using active listening: Rules of conduct should be taken into account.

• Not speaking – the conversation partner notices, first of all, that he (or she) is allowed to speak and that his/her opinion is heard when the other person does not speak.
• During the conversation, no other activities be followed up (phone call, search for documents, check emails, etc.). Interferences They must also be avoided through other means – including calls.
• Interest and attention towards others must also be shown in one's own dealings. Mimicry and Gestures They also reflect a relaxed, open, and open-minded posture, as well as Eye contact during the conversation.
• It is also very important that sufficient time If there is not enough time available in advance for the conversation in which "active listening" is intended, it is better to postpone it to a later time. As experience shows, active listening cannot be achieved when one is in a hurry or is thinking about something completely different (already in the next appointment or during an urgent project, etc.).

Active listening not only shows the other person that you value them as a person, which is so important in professional life. Through this technique, it is often possible to better understand what the conversation partner actually wants or can do, and to more easily identify the true purpose of the conversation.

Image: © Adobe Stock - Papisut