Active Listening

Yesterday, I was the guest speaker at the Gold Coast Builders Association Sales & Marketing Council at their monthy "Eye-Opener" Breakfast. We had a great time, an my topic was "Active Listening."

Listening is something that we take pretty much for granted and put way too little effort into. It is one of the keys to effective communication - hearing and understanding the other person's message or viewpoint - yet we often are more concerned with making our own points or moving on to something we find more interesting than that conversation.

For instance, we daydream, think about all of the things we have yet to accomplish that day, think about the kids' activities, think about matters at home, or concentrate more on our next question or comeback than we do in actually engaging the person talking directly to us.

Facing them maintaining eye contact, and giving them some assurance that we are listening and paying attention are ways that we can actively participate in listening.

In my podcast message today, "ACTIVE LISTENING," I recount yesterday's program and contrast active listening with the more passive kind that we so often do.

I also discuss how we listen with our ears, our eyes, and with a combination of our senses when we read messages.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2009, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.