Persona Power published on HKRG 2015-2016 - PERSONA POWER

Attractive Personality Powers through
Listening Skills

Being attractive usually comes from an instant feeling of dressing very nicely and with great style, but we can’t be dressed to the hilt all the time.

Another way of being attractive to others is by conversing with people. But not everyone is a good speaker, conversationalist or story teller. Some are shy, and big talkers can be boring.
Yet another way of being attractive is simply by listening to others! Listening is equally an important skill and art, just like speaking is.

First of all, to listen well, drop anything and everything that you are doing and look up at the speaker. How do we feel when we talk to someone and they don’t bother to look at us while we are speaking. We are not sure they are listening or understanding us. Eventually good listeners are among the most appreciated people in life, who rapport easily with anyone.

Next, show attractive listening skills to be likeable and friendly. Use expressive facial expressions, smiles, eye contact, head movements and some expressive hand gestures that you are enjoying being there and listening, Shy people who do not speak much, need to put more effort in their listening skills expressions. Else people tend to move away from those who feel expressionless and anyone would rather meet a friendly face.

Listening skills are never totally quiet. You require little words and sounds to show interest in the conversation. Personally and especially over the phone, use little phrases like: ‘oh’, ‘ok,’ really, then, after that, that’s interesting! Wow, I agree, tell me more and other small reflective words.
Another most effective listening skill is to repeat important or interesting information. This shows genuine interest, helps you to remember the issue, and avoids miscommunications between what was said and what you understood.

We do know that we should allow people to complete their sentences and to never cut them in mid sentence. Yet many are culprit to this bad habit. Are you? We actually have a duty to wait for people to finish speaking, before giving our own judgements.

Listening surely makes the other person feel important and if that person feels respected, it is more likely that they will not only like you, but they will love you!

I hope you are listening, for the rest of your life! Cheers!

Maya Daswani, Director of PERSONA POWER Image Management, Personality Development,
Soft Skills & Finishing School trainings and Communication skills trainings.
Meet her at www.personapower.com and subscribe to the Persona Power newsletter and quizzes to empower yourself.
email: info@personapower.com, www.personapower.com