According to research, people listen to only about 25% of what they hear. Probably less if someone is listening to his or her spouse or children! Individuals have conditioned themselves not to listen; yet, listening is perhaps the most important single skill business men and women need when serving customers.
Are good listeners born or developed? Researchers say the best listeners practice listening, just like other skills – playing golf, art or writing. If a person has ever had professional marital or family counseling, he or she knows the counselor attempts to first improve communication between people – by coaching them how to listen to each other. Developing the ability to listen will improve personal relationships as well as those in one’s professional life.
To start developing better listening habits, keep a few things in mind:
1 Plenty of time to listen and think
Most people speak at about 125-150 words per minute, but our minds comprehend at 450 words per minute. That gives us plenty of time to listen and think!
2 Commit yourself
Commit yourself to listening better – and practice. Start by slowing down and really listening to the next customer you speak to.
3 Stay focused
Don’t allow your mind to race ahead to a conclusion or jump around to other topics. Stay focused on what you are hearing.
4 Measure your improvement
See how much of the conversation you can actually repeat. Do this daily and measure how quickly your listening skills improve.
By practicing listening skills, individuals can better understand the needs of customers and work to serve them more effectively. What’s more, they’ll improve their personal relationships in the process!
About the author: Northwest Georgia Bank is Catoosa County, Georgia’s oldest continuous business. With branches in both Georgia and Tennessee, we are committed to providing unbeatable friendliness and customer service through our personal online banking and business banking services such as our programs for loans, investments and insurance.
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