Question

Using two examples from past experience, how do you adapt styles and behaviors of listening to diverse situations and individuals? How might the ability to adapt listening behaviors help one advance in their career?

Answer 1

Listening skill is important for setting up of an effective communication. I can recall an incident when I realized the importance of listening skills. It was the interview day after the completion of my graduation.

A multinational company came to our college campus for the purpose of recruitment to various posts. Interviewer asked me to describe myself. Later on, he started asking technical questions. I started to explain his questions.

When I was answering his questions then I was providing priority to my own words only. I was ignoring his words in order to make him listen what I have prepared. It was a negative gesture from my side. Despite having good scores in my graduation I missed the opportunity of grabbing the job opportunity.

I consulted an expert and he made me aware about my shortcomings. He prepared me from the perspectives of good listening skills. I came to know about the importance of making eye contact while talking. Importance of being quiet at appropriate time also became clear to me.

Multi tasking should be avoided at the time of communication. We should have an open mind during a talk. We should be ready to hear critical thoughts also. We can not hear the words of praise every time.

We should accept negative comments with an open mind. All these make us aware about our weaknesses. We should also be aware about our strengths. We should keep our points only after listening the other side in a proper way.

We should respond to someone only after receiving his/her thoughts. We should clearly understand the ideas of speaker. We should make an effective evaluation before uttering a word. I have faced similar situation during a school time conflict.

It took place due to the improper grasping of ideas from other side. If ideas of other people are not gathered in a proper manner then this may create confusion. Confusions lead to miscalculations of events which hampers our understanding power in a negative way.

It makes the resolution process a tedious task. These two incidents i.e. failure in job interview and school time conflict made me clear about the importance of effective listening skills. These listening skills make the communication effective and meaningful.

It also ensures the effective transfer of ideas. It creates a positive aura between speaker and listener. Effective communication helps in creation of positive impression. All these become the base of a good and sustainable development.