What are listening skills?

Have you ever spoken to someone and come away thinking you liked them far more than you expected to? That you'd like to spend more time in their company? That you trust them?

The chances are, they've been using advanced listening skills - because listening isn't just about hearing, it's about actively listening, skilfully, to what is being said in ways which made you act as though they were genuinely interested in you and what you had to say.

Those are listening skills in action.

Yes, but listening skills training?

If your job involves people talking to you - as a therapist, coach, manager, leader or councellor, then you owe it to the people talking to you to be able to listen actively and to completely understand what they're saying, what they mean and (at least some of) what they're not saying.

In short, listening skills can make you a better manager, leader etc…

Time for listening

Listening skills are such a fundamental part of the whole raft of communication skills that we include sections on listening skills in some of our other course (such as Dealing with difficult relationships at work) as well as providing freestanding training. This course is available in three formats:

  • a pint-sized module to fit in with other, customised training
  • a half day on listening skills, concentrating on understanding the tools and how to apply them
  • a full day of listening skills training, not only looking at the tools but also trying them out and embedding them in your day to day work
Which training you go for depends on your needs and your circumstances.

We'd love to hear what you've got to say about listening skills. To talk to us about it, just test our listening skills!