In March of 2021, it was brought to the Talent Development team that the company I work for needed a communication series of training. I was tasked with analyzing, designing, developing and implementing the series of trainings that we would embark on for the group. After thinking about the communication process, I landed on training one being active listening. Below are some slides to highlight the training, with video to come soon.
How I outlined the training is as such:
Define
What is communication?
How does one listen?
What is active listening?
How well do you listen?
Activity
Play a clip, have audience write out what they hear.
What affects us from listening?
Outside sounds
Take a moment to listen, what do you hear around you?
How does that noise affect you from listening to what I’m saying?
Daily Tasks
You’re in the middle of working on something, and you’re distracted.
Getting up from your desk and getting stopped in the hallway
Technology
Phone buzzing
Watch buzzing
Email on your computer
Instant Messages
Actively Listening
Active listening allows you to understand problems and collaborate to develop solutions
Think of a time where you didn’t listen and had to follow up with someone. How did it feel? How do you think that person felt?
How do you actively listen?
Neutral and nonjudgmental
Patient (periods of silence are not “filled”)
Verbal and nonverbal feedback to show signs of listening (e.g., smiling, eye contact, leaning in, mirroring)
Asking questions
Reflecting back what is said
Asking for clarification
Summarizing
How do you not actively listen?
Being stuck in your own head
Not showing respect for the speaker
Only hearing superficial meaning (not hearing underlying meaning)
Interrupting
Not making eye contact
Rushing the speaker
Becoming distracted
“Topping” the story (saying “that reminds me of the time…”)
Forgetting what was said in the past
Asking about unimportant details
Focusing too much on details and missing the big picture
Ignoring what you don’t understand
Daydreaming
Only pretending to pay attention
Know when you Cannot Listen
It’s your responsibility to let the person know that you’re speaking to that you cannot give your full attention.
Active Listening and Business Development
Important to active listen so the understand client needs
Upsell opportunities
No when to say no when active listening
Wrap – Up
Go over how to fully listen
Q&A
This interactive training hopefully will inspire and change some of the habits we have within the company as