Think of the last time you had to share something important with someone else. Do you feel like they paid attention to you? Do you feel like they let you share what you needed to share? Did you leave the conversation feeling respected and validated? Then you were probably talking to a good listener.

Being a good listener is a skill that many of us need to work on developing. Being a good listener is beneficial for the self and for others. For the self, good listening helps you absorb and retain information. For others, it helps build relationships and improve communities.

Becoming a good listener takes some practice, but with the tips below, we think you’ll be well on your way to becoming a good listener by the end of the year.

Four tips to help you become a good listener

1. Put away the distractions — One of the trademarks of someone who isn’t listening well is if they’re on their phone or distracted by something like a television. If someone approaches you for conversation and you want to be a good listener, rid yourself of distractions during the conversation and give your full attention to the speaker.
   

2. Maintain eye contact ⁠— Maintaining good eye contact can be a bit of an art. When you do it, it forces you to pay attention to the speaker and it shows the speaker that you’re listening. However, don’t stare. It’s OK to look away every now and then during a conversation. 
   

3. Pay attention to body language ⁠— Pay attention to what the speaker does with their arms and hands when they speak. Observe their tension levels and pay attention to the tone of their voice as well. All of these subtleties provide more context clues as to what the speaker is trying to share.
   

4. Ask questions ⁠— After someone is finished speaking or is waiting for a response, ask probing questions. Make sure to never interrupt with the questions or ask baseless questions just for the sake of speaking. Try not to change the topic either. Show that you’re listening well by asking relevant and probing questions. This is beneficial for you as well because you might learn something important from the conversation. 

Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey

At Centerpoint, we believe being a good listener is part of being the good neighbors that Jesus called us to be. We would love to walk with you on your journey in growing as a good listener and developing your relationship with God. We hope to meet you at one of our three services on Sunday morning in Valrico, Florida.