10 COMMANDMENTS FOR GOOD LISTENING
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Stop talking, you cannot listen if you are talking.
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Put the talker at ease. Hlp him feel that he is fre to talk.
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Show him that you want to listen. Look and act interested. Do not read your mail while he talks-Listen to understand rather than to oppose.
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Remove distractions. Do not doodle, tap, or shuffle papers. It might be quieter if you would shut the door.
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Sympathize with the talker. Try to put yourself in his palce so that you can see his point of view.
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Be patient. Do not start for the door or walk away.
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Hold your temper. An angry man gets the wrong meaning from words.
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Go easy on arguments and criticism, which will put him on the defensive. He may calm up or get angry. Do not argue because even if you win, you lose.
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Ask questions. This encourages him and shows that you are listening. It helps to develop points further.
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Stop talking. This is first and last, because all other commandments, depend on it. You just cannot do a good listening job while you are talking.