RULE 43
Be a good listener
I don’t mean you should provide a nice padded shoulder for all and sundry to come and cry on. In fact, that probably isn’t good listening but therapy. A good listener is someone who makes the speaker know that they are listening. You do this by:
- making encouraging noises – ‘Hmmm, go on, yes, I’m listening’
- displaying appropriate body language – head tilted to one side, eyes open and looking at the person speaking, not yawning or fiddling with your watch
- repeating back some bits to make sure they know you’ve taken them in – ‘On Friday at 3, yes, I’ve got that’
- getting them to repeat things you haven’t heard or understood – ‘Can you repeat that bit about Peterborough? I’m not sure I was taking that in’
- asking questions ...