It begins with listening without interrupting.
Often, if we wait long enough during an exchange, we’ll receive the answers to our questions. But all too often, particularly when facing workplace demands, we tend to rush to get answers and we spend more time talking than listening. Pause and listen to others. This can help you gather information and build a connection with workers.
Actively practice pausing and listening without interruption to what others have to say. Resist the urge to ask a question or share an idea. Be comfortable with pauses. Avoid invalidating another person’s efforts to communicate by assuming you know what they’re going to say before they’ve finished their sentence. If you catch yourself interrupting, don’t let that derail your task. Apologize for the interruption and resume listening intently.