How to Improve Your Listening Skills for Better Networking Opportunities

When you attend a business or academic event, you undoubtedly pursue more than one goal. It may be expanding your business, broadening your horizon, knowing new cultures (if you are attending international events), or most importantly, networking. Making successful connections at such events require some communication skills of course and if you have them and if you are good at managing them, count yourself one step further towards more successful networking. Among these skills, one of them takes the lead, which is listening, as you will also guess. Improving your listening skills will not only make you glitter at your next event but also work a lot for all your lifetime. Here are 8 ways to listen people better.

You’re Given Two Ears but a Mouth

Have you ever thought about why? Maybe you should listen more and talk less. When you are having a talk with someone, make sure they get the sense that they’re really being listened without the fear of interruption. So when you are listening someone, try not to interfere by bringing up a completely new topic before they’re finished. But when you are trying to do that, please also be sure that you are not making that irritating impression as if you just can’t wait to say what is on your mind. Never.

Look at the Person You’re Talking to

But not in a staring way. If you look them directly in the eyes, you may most likely discomfort them. So try not to go over your limit while trying to show that you are really listening to them. Never try to be too serious or to seem as if you really care for what they are saying with a fake impression on your face. Just really listen to them actively and carefully. It will be more than enough.

Be Curious

And try to consider this talk as an opportunity to learn a new thing. Always be open to new ideas and appreciate different views bearing in mind that your own idea may not be the ultimate truth this time. If you are stuck in your own point of view and keep trying persuade people to believe what you believe is definitely will make you stay at a dead end. Listening to other people with a great curiosity, is actually an effective way to improve yourself in many respects.

Have Nothing Else On Your Mind

Than what they are telling you at that moment. If you are distracted for any reason, for example if you are in a hurry, something just went wrong or if you have something to do, let them know and postpone your talk to some time later. It’s better than wasting your time and being disrespectful to someone.

Don’t Play with Something

Because it will give the sense that you’re bored to death actually. Even if you are that kind of person that just can’t stand still while listening to someone, force yourself not to do it because it will really distract them and make the impression that you don’t want to be there.

Try to Grab the Key Points

To summarize the stages of the talk that you’re having. You may have difficulty in concentrating on what they’re saying if they keep talking longer than your limits. However, there is still something that you can do both to show that you’re really interested in what they’re talking about and to focus your attention. So grab a few key points during the conversation and before they start another topic, mention these points and summarize them to clarify that you understood that topic fully.

Try to be Empathic

Instead impressing your idea upon them, try to think like them and put yourself in their shoes to understand them. What they are saying may sound wrong to you but when you manage to look from their side, you can develop another point of view to understand their idea. So when you are having a conversation with someone, always try to be empathic first rather than judging them or trying to convince them. This will certainly remove that invisible doors between you and them.

And If You’re a Merchandiser

And if you are having a conversation with a potential customer to introduce your product or service, first listen to their needs and requirements and then try to emphasize those features of your product. Never exaggerate your product or discredit your competitors’ and never interrupt while your customer is describing their needs.