How effective are your listening skills?

Interview or talk between a man and a woman sitting in armchairs

Introduction

Listening is one of the most essential – yet often overlooked — skills in both professional and personal life.  It’s not just about hearing the words someone says, but about truly understanding their message, intent, and emotions.

Whether you’re a manager, team member, or friend, good listening can build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and improve outcomes.

This short questionnaire will help you assess how effective your listening skills are. Be honest with yourself when completing it – this is a tool for self-awareness and growth, not a test.

 

Complete the Questionnaire

 

Now What? Five Powerful Ways to Improve Your Listening Skills

Here are five impactful ways to boost your listening abilities:

  1. Give your full attention
    Minimise distractions – put your phone away, close your laptop, and maintain eye contact. Presence shows respect and makes the speaker feel heard.
  2. Resist the urge to interrupt
    Let the speaker finish their thoughts before jumping in. Interrupting often means you’re listening to reply rather than to understand.
  3. Practice active listening
    Show that you’re engaged by nodding, making small verbal acknowledgements (“I see”, “Go on”), and paraphrasing to check understanding (“So what you’re saying is…”).
  4. Be aware of body language
    Non-verbal cues like posture, facial expressions, and gestures all signal whether you’re genuinely listening or just waiting for your turn to speak.  Also, be aware of their body language; does it match what they are saying? If there is a mis-match, do you need to ask further questions to establish what they are really thinking or feeling?
  5. Ask thoughtful questions
    Follow up with open-ended questions that show curiosity and interest. This deepens the conversation and helps build stronger connections.