VOC- April is National Listening Month

With April being the national listening month we’re asking “How good of a listener are you?” While expressing our wants, feelings, thoughts and opinions clearly and effectively are important to communication; it is only half of the process. Listening is the other half and just as important while communicating. 

 This was a very hot topic to be discussed in our group. While all involved thought they were good listeners we discovered we didn’t listen as good as we thought. When we talked about what made a good listener we all found we lacked some of the important skills.

Sassy expressed that part of good listening skills is to speak up so everyone can hear you, while Madam X added we need to speak clearly as well. Zerox stated that if you give too many unimportant details the listener will lose interest in what is being said. Star Gazer talked about how body language is also a part of listening as is eye contact. Webkin stated he likes when people look at him when he is talking because he feels they are listening to him. Princess Nor and Ms. Pacman both agreed that it’s very important for us to feel that the people we are talking to are listening.  Listening exercises were practiced in our social skills class with success.  With a little practice we can all learn new listening skills.

So here are some tips to being a good listener:

Use eye contact and body language; avoid looking around at other people or activities around the room.

Face to face communications is best with the listener nodding their head with what is being said.

Repeating what we think the other person said helps both parties know the point they are getting across is what we really wanted to say.

Let the person finish say what they needed to say before inputting your own ideas or comments.

So the big question is, “How good of a listener are you?”