When you think of social skills, you probably picture yourself talking, but listening is also essential. In fact, listening is a critical way of making others feel like you are engaged in the conversation.
Is Being a Good Listener a Social Skill?
Being a good listener is a social skill that shows you are interested in others, have empathy, and acknowledge those around you. Listening and engaging when you listen is a great way to participate in a conversation while making the other person feel heard.
One of the most important parts of socializing is considering the experience of those you are socializing with. Listening to someone else is not only polite but also shows them you can gladly let them speak while being engaged in what they have to say.
Listening is the First Step in Building Social Skills
The first step in building your social skills is to listen to others. You can’t engage with another person only by talking all the time. You need to listen to really engage. Listening is also very good for people who are not comfortable talking. It reduces how much you speak and allows you to observe others.
If you can listen to someone else without having to take over the conversation, you will be well on your way to developing your conversation skills. Being a good listener is as important for conversation as being a good talker. You cannot engage socially by making it all about you. Listening makes it about those around you and your response to them.
Why Listening is Such an Important Social Skill
You make others feel good when you listen. “He (or she) is a good listener” is a great compliment. People typically appreciate it when someone listens to them. It is a great service when someone needs a friendly ear or just wants to share a story.
When someone is talking and another person just isn’t listening it comes of as incredibly disrespectful. By truly listening you show respect. This will make people feel good about talking with you. They will feel valued and recognized.
Listening is also a sign of good manners. It is best to be polite and not dominate a conversation or ignore others.
What Traits We See in Good Listeners
When someone is a good listener, we often associate them with traits such as empathy, patience, compassion, curiosity, and good manners. These positive characteristics can be related to a person simply for taking an interest in listening to others.
Being a good listener is always seen as a positive trait. That is why it is so important to be aware of yourself in conversations and pay attention to others and not just wait for your chance to speak.
Listening Socially
Becoming a better listener is an essential social skill that will help you make a good impression on those around you. Engaging with others means two-way communication, and that requires listening as well as talking.
