What do you do if your decision-making is hindered by poor listening skills?

Decision-making is a crucial skill that can be significantly impacted by the ability to listen well. Poor listening skills can lead to misunderstandings, missed information, and ultimately, less effective decisions. If you find yourself frequently making decisions without fully understanding the situation, it's likely that your listening skills could use some improvement. The good news is that listening is a skill that can be developed with practice and intentionality. By becoming aware of the barriers to effective listening and actively working to overcome them, you can enhance your decision-making abilities and achieve better outcomes both professionally and personally.

1 Acknowledge Issue

The first step towards improving your decision-making through better listening is to acknowledge that there is an issue. Recognize the signs of poor listening, such as frequently interrupting others, misunderstanding conversations, or finding it hard to recall what was said in meetings. Admitting that your listening skills may be lacking is not a sign of weakness but a courageous first step towards personal growth. Once you are aware of the problem, you can take proactive measures to address it.

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2 Seek Feedback

To understand how your listening skills are affecting your decision-making, seek feedback from colleagues, friends, or family members. They can provide insights into how often you might misunderstand instructions or miss out on important details. This feedback is invaluable as it highlights specific areas where you need improvement. Remember, the goal is not to feel criticized but to gather information that will help you become a more effective listener and decision-maker.

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3 Practice Actively

Active listening is a technique that involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and then remembering what is being said. To practice active listening, focus on the speaker, make eye contact, and avoid distractions. Nodding or giving verbal affirmations can also show that you're engaged. By practicing active listening, you'll retain more information, which is essential for making well-informed decisions.

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Dr. Jamilla Al Hinai (PhD)

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As many "first-time manager", I found decision making as a challenging process when we rely on detail-oriented information that is held by the team. At that time, I read books and articles about active listening but my skills were not improving. So I recalled the advise of my academic supervisor who said once: If you really want to be a good listener, stop judgments and criticizing in your mind. Accordingly, you will find yourself visualizing what is said objectively and you will never need to interrupt." I am using this advice every day and proves useful. Active and poor listening start in your mind. Thus, if we program our mind to focus on the dialogue as a spectator, many blind spots can be unfold, and untold stories can be revealed.

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4 Adjust Habits

Your daily habits can greatly influence your listening skills. Start by minimizing distractions when someone is speaking to you. This means putting away your phone, closing your laptop, or moving to a quieter environment if necessary. Additionally, practice patience by not finishing other people's sentences or formulating your response while they are still talking. By adjusting these habits, you create an environment conducive to better listening, which in turn enhances your decision-making.

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5 Learn Techniques

Several techniques can help improve your listening skills. For instance, summarizing what the speaker has said and asking clarifying questions ensures that you have understood the message correctly. Another technique is to repeat information back to the speaker in your own words, which not only confirms your understanding but also helps commit the information to memory. These techniques are easy to learn and can have a significant impact on the quality of your decisions.

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6 Apply Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment. By applying mindfulness to listening, you can reduce the likelihood of your mind wandering during conversations. Simple mindfulness exercises like deep breathing before a meeting or focusing on the speaker's words can help maintain your concentration. Mindful listening leads to better comprehension of the information presented, which is crucial for sound decision-making.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your decision-making is hindered by poor listening skills?

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1 Acknowledge Issue

2 Seek Feedback

3 Practice Actively

4 Adjust Habits

5 Learn Techniques

6 Apply Mindfulness

7 Here’s what else to consider

Decision-Making

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What do you do if your decision-making is hindered by poor listening skills?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Acknowledge Issue

2 Seek Feedback

3 Practice Actively

4 Adjust Habits

5 Learn Techniques

6 Apply Mindfulness

7 Here’s what else to consider

Decision-Making

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