By Benecia Beyer
Today's employees want to be asked for feedback and they want to be heard. This is according to a 
survey conducted of 2,000 employees across multiple generations. One quarter of "Generation X" employees (born between 1965 and 1979) considered it very important to get feedback from their boss at least once a week, if not every day. Only 11% of "Traditionalists" (born between 1928 and 1945) desired that level of communication. Clearly, times have changed and so have employee attitudes. Here are some tips for becoming a better listener.
- Fix Your Gaze
When you speak with someone, maintain eye contact with that person. How many times have you been talking to someone who glances over your shoulder as if they are looking for someone more interesting? It doesn't leave you with a positive impression, does it? Fix your gaze on the person speaking. - Ask Question in Response To A Questions
By doing this you show respect and a genuine interest in the well-being of the other person. Just as eye contact makes people feel important, asking questions makes them feel as though their opinions count. In a business setting, ask questions that move the conversation forward and that give you another opportunity to listen to the speaker. And don't interrupt when your question is being answered! - Incorporate Feedback
Solicit opinions and then take action based on that feedback, if appropriate. The more you ask for opinions, the more comfortable people feel offering it. - Be Available For Tough Questions
When people know that you are available for the tough questions too and that you invite them instead of shrink away from them - they have all the more respect for you.
You just might be surprised at just how much more successful you are when you listen more and speak less.
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