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1 Sometimes it is necessary to insist on further explanation. 2 You shouldnt focus on your response while others are still speaking. 3 People are reluctant to admit that they dont listen well. 4 There are benefits in seeing things from the speakers perspective. 5 Keen observation of the speaker can support our listening skills. 6 It is risky to think about a different issue while someone is speaking. 7 People do not mind hearing their own views summarised. Good listener, better manager A Too often we accuse others of not listening, pretending that we ourselves are faultless, yet in our hearts we know that many of the mistakes we make come about because we havent listened carefully enough. We get things wrong because we havent quite understood what someone meant when they were talking to us. Anyone who has ever taken the minutes of a long meeting will know how hard it is to remember - despite the benefit of notes - exactly what everyone said. But success depends on getting things right - and that means listening. B Listening is not the same thing as hearing; it is not an effortless activity. It demands attention and concentration. It may mean quizzing the speaker for additional information or for clarification - it is always better to ask than to continue regardless and get things wrong. However, if you allow your mind to wander onto something else, even for a few minutes, youll miss what the speaker is saying - probably at the very moment when he or she is saying something critical. And not having heard, you wont know youve missed anything until its too late. | 
