Okay, it’s obvious, right?  Listening and learning are critically important for your business success!  How well do you feel you are really applying these business sustaining skills and activities? (see the book, Are You Really Listening?)   And, what are the best companies doing these days?

Are you applying active listening and learning for the greater health and wealth of your business!?

Having been in the entrepreneurial world forever with many years working with educational-type companies, I’ve seen the dramatic affect of business leaders and managers who take this topic seriously. I thought I would share some key points and tips for the kind of active listening and learning that leads to GREATER EARNING, particularly in today’s dynamically changing business climate.

Key Elements of Active Listening & Learning:

1. Listening Seems to be Simple, But it’s NOT. Listening is NOT an easy skill; it involves building conscientious focus and habits (often changing many of our habits).

2. Marketing Power. Marketing looses its strength and power without the valuable components of active listening and learning.

3. Hearing is Fallible. Assumptions, prejudgment and beliefs are the human filters that impair our actual hearing.  Audio illusions can occur; much of what we hear is based on our mindset and focus.

4. A Foundation for Relationships. Active listening and learning is a model for respect and understanding.  It’s the foundation of our working relationships and contributes greatly to our most important marketing strategies.

5. Market Innovation & Resilience. A changing world requires valuable attention and innovation, which can only be achieved through active listening and learning.

12 Important Active Listening & Learning Tips for Your Greater Success:

1. Build Active Listening and Learning Into Your Organization. This helps with quality management and multiple opportunities for growth and success.

2. Create Encouraging Company Policies & Rewards. Encourage and reward good suggestions, ideas and recommendations. Give recognition and consider giving monetary bonuses to those who give new ideas that are implemented.  (Create an efficient means of receiving even crazy ideas; it may take several before the golden ideas are discovered)

3.  Increase Your Customer IQ. When you actively listen and learn about your customers, clients and marketplace, it provides a basis for knowledge and success. (See my Customer IQ blog article) Include the internet as a tool for learning by reading/listening to online discussions and more.  Use Twitter, blogs, customer feedback/surveys, online social media/professional networks, etc.  Review your web analytics… What are they saying about your business on the web and your marketplace?

4.  Encourage On-going Company Learning. Encourage and support your team to engage in a variety of educational activities and resources (from books, research, news, and seminars, to online webinars, tutorials, social networks, newsletters and articles. -See Web Marketing Therapy’s educational resources).

5. Share & Exchange. Create meetings and moments of exchange for team-members to share their learning experiences and questions.  This helps with bonding, job satisfaction, progress and success.

6.  Avoid Distractions. Be aware of environmental and mental distractions; limit them as much as possible when listening and learning. Focus on being fully present –with full dedication and determination.

7.  Engage Your Listeners with Multiple Senses. Apply multiple senses to capture your listeners’ attention.  Make it more interactive, use visuals, and even movement (when you can in person).

8. Establish a Sense of Welcome. When you are listening (in person or on the phone) create a sense of welcome with your language (be verbally encouraging), use positive body positioning (e.g.: don’t cross arms, etc.).  Also, be sure to smile; this even comes across to people on the phone. However, also keep your time efficient and directed.

9.  Review & Reflect with Your Team & Clients. After completion of projects, discuss learning insights and ideas for future improvements. It’s proven to maximize your effectiveness and learning.

10. Clarify, Question & Restate. You may say “What do you mean when you say…” “Is this what you mean?”  Summarize or paraphrase the speaker’s comments periodically. (If you don’t, you’ll find that what someone says to you and what you hear can be amazingly different!)

11. Authentically & Respectfully Respond. Be authentic, candid, open, and honest in your responses.  Assert your opinions respectfully.  Use the Golden Rule:  Treat the other person, as he or she would want to be treated.

12. Do Not Interrupt. Interruptions waste time.  It frustrates the speaker and limits full understanding of the message. Don’t use interruptive counter-arguments. Allow the speaker to finish.

How ACTIVE are you willing to be… to authentically connect and meet the needs of your target customers??

Web Marketing Therapy Related Links:

• “INFORM & TRANSFORM” for Successful Business Awareness and Sales!
• Web Marketing Tip – Never Stop Learning
• Small Business: A Good Obsession is a “Customer Obesession”
• Business Success: Keys for Building Strong “Virtual Work Teams”