How to Listen at Business Meetings

You're sitting at another of those business meetings you hate. The speakers are droning on about matters that have little relevance to your job and small impact on your department. The temptation is to let your attention drift. But you must pay attention and listen. Businesses rely on proper communication to function well, and listening skills are part of that process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Listen to the speaker. There's a big difference between listening and hearing. We tend to listen closely when we're interested, but let things of little interest pass through our mind.
2. Focus on the speaker. Look at him or her and keep your mind clear of all other distractions. Watch their lips as they speak and let their words resonate in your mind.
3. Take notes. Come prepared with pencil and paper if no agenda is provided. Some material may not be relevant to you now, but you can pick up information, such as names of contacts and businesses, that might be useful later. Plus, the physical action of taking notes helps you stay focused.
4. Sort and classify the information mentally. Link it to something you already know. You can listen four times faster than a person can speak, so use that ability to your advantage.
5. Avoid the tendency to listen to superiors, while letting your attention drift away from coworkers at lower salary levels. Management frequently uses employee suggestions to improve productivity and efficiency.
6. Ask questions. In this way, you demonstrate your interest and show that you are listening.

Tips & Warnings

• While we normally can hear without effort, listening skills must be developed through practice. Breakdowns in communication result in costly mistakes.

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