Improving my listening skills at work would increase the effectiveness of my communication because the person or people that are talking to me or trying to explain something to me will know that I am being attentive they will know that they can trust that I am hearing what they are saying, understanding what they are saying, and most importantly hear what they are saying. I know that if my managers know that I am actively listening it could definitely have positive outcomes on where I want to be in my career. The main strategy of effective listening that I think I need to personally work on would be “Mindful”
(Wood p 160). In my work situation being mindful would be me learning to in our group meeting situations to let people speak all the way through even if they are totally off topic, not to try and dominate the talk stage. At work I would also want to work on my “active listening skills” (wood p160) which I know is hard work but it will force me to ask questions and let the other person know I am interested in what they are saying and I am actually taking it in. It would also force me to ask questions because I know myself personally, if I am not actively listen my mind wanders on to other things and I won’t ask questions and I won’t retain a word that was said.
These same techniques can help me in my personal life as well because a lot of times my husband will have important information that he