3 – Ask questions for clarification
When talking to others, never assume that you have heard the information the other person has given you correctly, or that you have drawn the correct conclusion yourself! This is a stumbling block that only amateurs stumble over. So feel free to ask as many questions as you can – because the one asking is in control of the conversation. The question you can always ask is “What do you mean?” – it will always encourage your interlocutor to give you more information.
Why is this important? The fact is that we humans speak 100-150 words per minute, while listening to as many as 600. This also means that when we speak, our interlocutor de facto allocates only one quarter of his mental capacity to following us, while three-thirds are free to think about anything else – and then he often stops listening to us. However, when we allow him to speak, his attention is completely on us. So – ask questions!
4 – Paraphrase
Paraphrasing what the other person has said will show them that you are actively listening. You can do this with phrases like “If I understood you correctly…”, “You said that…”, etc. Paraphrasing will mexico whatsapp data result in one of two possible outcomes:
You understood the other person correctly, and you will confirm this by paraphrasing, which will make them happy and will automatically increase the trust between you;
You didn't understand the other person correctly, you will paraphrase what you heard, and he will correct you and give you truly accurate information.
Whichever way you look at it, paraphrasing is a win-win situation. ?
5 – Use open-ended questions
By asking open-ended questions, you will not only show your interlocutor that you are actively listening, but you will also get information from him that he might not have told you himself. Open-ended questions are those that start with “Who…”, “What…”, “When…”, “How…”, “Which…”, “Why…”, “How come…”, etc. Be sure to use them in your next communication – you will be surprised at the information you will get.