Here are nine simple steps to improve your listening skills and make you a more effective communicator both at home and at work.
1. Decide to listen
Listening is not the same as hearing, and it's not waiting your turn to speak. For each conversation, make a conscious decision to listen, and then do it actively.
2. Avoid selective listening
Listen to the end, and don't assume you know what the other person was going to say. Also, don't tune people just because you don't like them.
3. Give acknowledgement and feedback
Verbal acknowledgement such as "I understand", or body language such as a nod or a smile (or puzzled frown) let the speaker know you are listening and encourage more effective conversation.
4. Ask appropriate questions
Use open-ended questions (i.e. those that can't be answered in one word) to elicit more information, and closed-ended questions to confirm facts.
5. Listen for non-verbal cues
For clarity and credibility, a person's words, tone of voice and body language should be congruent. If they are not, lean towards believing the non-verbal message.
6. Listen with your whole body
If you sit forward and maintain eye contact, you not only give the impression of listening, but you actually do listen more effectively.
7. Separate fact from opinion and propaganda
We all recognize the propanganda that comes at us from the advertising industry, but we don't always realize it can come in regular conversation too. When someone makes a statement, ask yourself if it is fact, or just what that person wants you to believe. It can make a big difference to your response.
8. Control your emotional response
Learn to recognize when someone has pressed one of your 'hot buttons'. You can then decide how to respond, rather than give in to a 'knee-jerk' reaction. The person who can control emotional response always has the upper hand.
9. Make notes
Notes can be physical—on paper or a computer screen—or mental. Practise the technique of making mental notes and your conversational skills will increase dramatically.
Many people never have the sense they are being listened to. By giving them the gift of listening, you can create a bond that automatically contributes to better ongoing communication and effectiveness at work.
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Even though you might not know how to fix a plumbing disaster, there are literally dozens of businesses who provide plumbing in San Jose. This means that your task is to choose the best plumber to meet your needs. The following article highlights things you should search for and things you should avoid when it comes to hiring a San Jose plumber.
Things to Look For
If you know the characteristics of a good plumber, it becomes a lot easier to weed out the bad ones. A few things you should aim for in the company you hire are a good reputation, experience, tools of the trade, and good rates.
Reputation
A good reputation is built through excellent customer service. This includes everything from how well they communicate with their customers to how quickly they solve the plumbing problem. For example, was it easy to schedule an appointment, was the plumber good at explaining the issue and the solutions you can choose from, did he work quickly and leave the work space looking neat? If you haven't heard about a company directly from your own friends and family members, you can still look for evidence of their customer service through online referrals or testimonials.
Experience
There are a couple ways to judge a plumber's experience. Reputation is the first, but we've already gone over that. Numbers are the second. For example, you can ask how many customers they serve or how many years they've been in the business. You can also gage their experience by the way they respond to your plumbing emergency. Do they know where to look for the problem? Can they explain what happened and how to fix it? If they know what they are talking about and they are clear and confident, you've probably found a keeper.
Up-Front pricing
Up-front pricing is useful because it lets you know exactly how much your repairs will cost before the plumber even begins working on the problem. This reduces the risk of getting overcharged after the work is done with no alternative but to pay for it.
Well- Equipped
If a company is well-equipped, they will have all the tools that they need to fix your problem. This could include anything from video feed technology to a metal drain snake that can loosen up deep clogs and everything in between like toilet, drain, shower and washer parts. If a company has its own loaded trucks, it will be more likely to have the tools they need on hand. This saves time because they won't have to run to the store for a part after they diagnose the problem.
Things to Avoid
If you are having trouble finding all the thing you want in one company, the least you can do is avoid a few things that usually make plumbing problems more expensive.
Hourly Pricing
It is wise to avoid hourly pricing because you never know how much a job will cost before it starts. It also creates incentive for plumber to work slower. For example, if you have a slow worker, you'll pay more than you would have with a fast worker. For fast and efficient service, look for up-front pricing.
Evaluation Fee
With so many plumbers to choose from, it is also easy to avoid paying an evaluation fee. After all, if a plumber comes to your home, diagnoses the problem and then quotes a ridiculously high price, you don't want to pay for a diagnosis when you aren't willing to pay for the repairs.
With these guidelines to direct your search, finding the right company for your plumbing needs in San Jose should be a piece of cake.
Both Helen Wilkie & Art Gib are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Helen Wilkie has sinced written about articles on various topics from Writing, self improvement and motivation and Finances. Helen Wilkie is a professional keynote speaker and workshop leader specializing in workplace communication. She also facilitates events to enab. Helen Wilkie's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.
Art Gib has sinced written about articles on various topics from Supplements, Teachers and self improvement and motivation. Customer service is of paramount importance to All Star Plumbing. Their experienced and friendly repair men provide fast and affordable . For more informat. Art Gib's top article generates over 1830000 views. to your Favourites.
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