Quick Tip: Learn to Listen

When mentoring it is important to listen. You should be actively listening (both ways) during mentoring conversations. Part of actively listening and learning to listen well is identifying how you listen and being more aware of it.

Here is a quick exercise for you to do to help you identify how you listen and how you think you can improve your listening skills.

Read each of the following statements and give them a grade – “A” for always. “B” for Sometimes or “C” for Never.

• I listen for feelings and attitudes as well as facts.
• I try to listen for what is not said.
• I avoid interrupting the person who is speaking.
• I actually pay attention, rather than pretending to pay attention.
• I try to avoid being distracted by the speaker’s mannerisms.
• I avoid letting the speakers status affect my listening
• I try to read the speaker’s body language
• As a listener, I use non-verbal communication to show that I want to hear more
• If I have not understood, I admit to it and ask for clarification
• I avoid framing my response while the other person is still talking.

Now that you have identified your grading for each of the above statements – think about what you might do to improve those areas where you replied “Never”.