Understanding the Importance of Listening Skills in Business Communications
One of the most crucial elements to success for a small business owner is the strength of their relationships with customers, employees, suppliers, and vendors.
And one of the best ways to forge stronger relationships is through listening.
Utilizing good listening skills helps an operation learn how to serve customers and employees best while fostering a more favorable environment for all parties.
Therefore, it is advisable to understand the importance of listening skills in all business communications.
Active Listening
Strong listening skills go well beyond just hearing what someone says. Active listening is the best form, which occurs when the speaker focuses their full attention on the speaker, does not interrupt, withholds judgment, and shows genuine interest.[1]
By giving the speaker their undivided attention, the listener can better understand what is being said while picking up on non-verbal cues. The listener should also demonstrate engagement through small words of acknowledgment and non-verbal gestures.
Conflict Resolution
Listening is the key to resolving conflict in business settings, whether with a customer, an employee, or a vendor. In any dispute, people want to feel like they are being heard and understood, and active listening allows you to do just that.
Effective listening allows actual problem solving while expressing genuine care and consideration for the people in a state of conflict. In addition, such attention fosters interpersonal bonding, which forms the basis for commitment and trust, two things all business owners would love to have with their customers and employees.
Unintended Benefits
Businesses that focus on the importance of listening are likely to enjoy benefits that go far beyond the ability to resolve conflict effectively. Such unintended benefits include increased productivity, improved perception, and more beneficial relationships.
Productivity will rise in a work environment where employees are genuinely heard. When processes are tailored to the strengths and preferences of workers, their output will increase.
Additionally, the perception of a business from both a customer and employee standpoint will improve when those parties feel as though they are genuinely heard and understood. An enhanced perception will make your business more attractive to future clients and prospective employees.
Finally, good listening skills can strengthen relationships with suppliers and vendors, which can benefit your operation when you need it most. For instance, a business is more likely to get a line of credit from a lender if they have a good working relationship, which can only be developed with effective listening.
Here at Visa Business Plans, we aim to give entrepreneurs and business owners every advantage to help them succeed. We take the time to get to know each of our clients and their goals, and clients can learn how to most effectively serve and listen to their clients by taking advantage of our business coaching services. So if you want to start a business or grow your current operation, call us today to see how we can help you!
Visa Business Plans is led by Marco Scanu, a certified coach from the University of Miami with a globally-based practice coaching Fortune 1000 company executives, entrepreneurs, as well as professionals in 4 different continents. Mr. Scanu advises clients on turnaround strategies and crisis management.
Mr. Scanu received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Cum Laude) from the University of Florida and an MBA in Management from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Mr. Scanu was also a Visiting Scholar at Michigan State University under the prestigious H. Humphrey Fellowship (Fulbright program) with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, and high-growth enterprises.
At present, Mr. Scanu is the managing partner and CEO at Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm providing attorneys and investors with business planning services in the areas of U.S. and Canadian immigration, SBA loans, and others.
[1] https://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-listening-business-communications-75782.html
