In our current, mostly-virtual, communication world, listening is more important than ever. It’s easy to get distracted and not fully pay attention. When we’re at home we’re thinking about all the other things we could be doing or worse… we’re only half-listening as we’re phone/video conferencing because we are trying to do other work at the same time. Here are some tips to improve our listening skills.
Leverage Technology
Set up your workspace so you can really focus. Keep it clean. Keep work stuff separate from home stuff. Sit in an ergonomic chair with good posture or stand. If you can, close a door or put up a screen to visually and physically separate your workspace from your personal space. Put your camera at a flattering angle and far enough away that others can see you gesture.
Invest in a microphone if the one on your device isn’t sufficient. (I thought mine was good until I recorded myself and played it back. Now I use an external mic that better picks up my voice without grabbing as much background noise.)
Get comfortable with the video-conference technology. Learn how to raise your virtual hand, use the chat feature, and of course, mute and unmute yourself. Show up early so you can get to know the speaker and network with whomever else is there.
Listening Posture
When we read body language tips, we think we already know it. It seems logical; it makes sense. You’re right, it does. But we forget to think about it, and we forget to keep our own bodies in check. Because we’re home, it is easier to slouch on a couch or recline in bed for meetings. I don’t recommend it! Casual posture can lead to a casual attitude. When you’re at work, present yourself as being fully alert and present. Have an open and attentive posture.
We also forget how important our body language is for a speaker or teacher. I recently presented a live webinar over video-conference. Not one person had their camera on! I didn’t know if I was being understood, if I was going too fast, or if there was even anyone on the other side of that black screen.
As an introvert, feedback encourages me to give more. An engaged audience makes for a better experience for everyone. Keep your camera on! Nod along. Give the speaker eye contact. Take notes. Don’t be afraid to look confused. Ask well-thought-out and appropriately timed questions.
Nonverbal Feedback Pros
A woman who attended a four-week course I taught at the local tech college has remarkable facial expressions. I knew exactly what she was thinking. I could tell if I was going too slowly, too fast, or if she was utterly lost. On the last day of class, I found out that both of her parents were deaf. Sign language was her first language, and she had learned in a remarkable way how to be expressive.
A young lady gave me constant eye contact while I was speaking at a conference in Austin, Texas. I told her how much I appreciated her feedback. I found out she was from Ukraine and English is not her first language. She informed me that giving her full attention ensured she understood every word.
Can you give better visual feedback? Don’t be afraid to wear your thoughts on your face. You can also give feedback in the form of post-class surveys or send an email to your instructor. Let them know what you thought about the presentation, what you liked, and how they can improve.
