Learning To Listen
Michael Webb wrote a great article about the barriers to effective listening. No matter what your job is, if it involves communicating with people (customers, employees, managers, etc.) you must read this article!
One issue needs to be emphasized, though: listener and speaker are not separate roles.
When you act as a speaker, you should also be a listener and be attentive to your audience. This is relevant to any interactive form of communication. Therefore, the message of the article is relevant to both sides of a conversation.
Even if you are currently speaking, don’t make yourself “the speaker” and let the other party do all the hard work of listening.
