Effective Listening Skills

Dear Carnegie Coach:
I’ve been a manager in a very high stress job. Some days I find myself in my office all day stuck under a pile of work. Most of my employees don’t see me very much and this has lead to some discontent within my office. What can I do to better stay in touch with my employees?
-Daren

Dear Daren:
Open your door and listen. Employees need to feel like you value what they have to say, by listening you can raise morale and energize your workforce. Here are a few tips on how to become an active listener.

1. Look at the other person- Eye contact is very important, it let’s the other person know that you are listening and have an interest in what they have to say.
2. Ask questions- By asking questions you can not only better understand what the persons saying but you are engaging them.
3. Don’t change the subject- You should not be the one leading the conversation. Listen and let the other person lead, let the person stay on the topic.
4. Express emotion with control – emotion is a form of non verbal feedback. A smile or a frown lets the person know that you understand what they are saying.
5. Action – If a question or concern is left unanswered, show that you will follow up, take action and return back with a response.

"I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow." -Woodrow Wilson

Dale Carnegie

“It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.” -Dale Carnegie