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Newspapers, journals, and other publications simply report on the number of women who run their own businesses. In 2017, approximately 51% of women in the United States were employed, hiring nearly 9 million people and producing $1.7 trillion in revenue. These figures, however, only tell part of the tale. Women’s entrepreneurship is about much more than this.

They’ve battled all of the issues that women entrepreneurs face for a long time to get to where they are now. A similar upward trend can be seen in entrepreneurship, where women-owned businesses and firms are gaining tremendous visibility and growth.

However, when it comes to women, things are far from perfect, and the same is true for women in the company. Despite having the requisite aptitude, stamina, determination, and creativity for the company, women have faced numerous personal and professional obstacles that have held them back and continue to hold them back. 

• Women entrepreneurs are confronted with several problems from the start of the business. 
• The traditions, practices, socio-cultural values, ethics, and motherships subordinated to linguistic and male husbands, physically poor, challenging workplaces, the feeling of vulnerability cannot be harsh.
• Women have to suffer even more in rural areas. The resistance from men is tough. They are regarded as assistants.

 “Shaakh Se Jo Toot Jaye Hum Vo Pattian Nahi, Toofano Se Kaho Vo Apni Aukat Mein Rahe”

Who is a woman entrepreneur?

A woman entrepreneur can be described as a woman or a group of women who works to improve the economic situation. At the end of the day, a woman entrepreneur is described as a woman or a group of women who start a business and run it successfully.

Women’s entrepreneurship visionary, according to the Indian government, is described as a venture owned and controlled by a woman, as well as an activity claimed or controlled by a woman to grow and improve income generation.

I have seen marriages getting broken just because the wife earns more than the husband. I have also seen the females fighting hard to survive as all they did their entire life was to depend on their husbands. The times have changed and now I tell everyone to stand on their feet and lead a life that is independent. 

Major problems that women entrepreneurs face in today’s times

Let me tell you some of the obstacles that the women entrepreneurs face:

• Financial problems

Money is to a business what food is to a human body, and it is essential to every company, large or small. On the other hand, women suffer in this regard because they lack access to extra funds, familial land and, in some cases, receive no material or financial support from their own families.

Women are also having trouble obtaining external funding because they are viewed as low risk-takers who would not achieve the desired performance for their company. To overcome this, women should take advantage of government-sponsored programmes for women, SMEs, and the like. 

When my husband passed away I was like a blank cheque. I have always handled my home but now people were looking at me for professional reasons also. I had a lot of things to take care of and had a battle to win out there. Despite all those things today I am struggling and giving a tough fight to my competitors. 

• A huge competition

Women continue to struggle for a footing in the world of men, and business is no different. In any event, a woman tries to make it big without proper financial assistance and organisational equipment to support her in advertising and marketing, promotions and towing. There is a massive rivalry between current and coming companies.

Furthermore, it is difficult to handle a stand-alone product that captures people’s eyes in the market, potentially leading to the failure or liquidation of companies operated by women. There is only one way to compete for your business – remain lean, place forces to weaknesses, chase big customers aggressively. 

• Lack of education

It is a massive obstacle to women because it can be a basis for success or failure in any area of life. Almost 60% of women in India, which has long been one of our country’s most significant socioeconomic challenges, are estimated to be illiterate.

Because of the lack of education and even basic knowledge, women are far from events worldwide, especially technological interference, increasing and decreasing markets and any type of business knowledge. There is also a significant barrier to women and one of the top issues for women businessmen: their lack of education and sufficient visibility.

This is because the women are not taught properly. Its the lack of getting connected with the outer world in the way like the males do. 

• Male domination

Yes, women entrepreneurs with determination and vigour make a wave of the industry. Despite their right mindset and ability to work, women continue to be considered less than men. Male chauvinism in India is still prevalent, not only in rural but also in urban environments.

Women have always had different social and cultural standards than men’s. Though women now do household and professional tasks with aplomb, thanks to our patriarchal culture, they are perceivable as having husbands’ position and being beyond him.

Almost 47 percent of the women working in the sector are nonetheless prejudicial to the male way of doing things. Women can outfit themselves with such armour to counter the crisis, and they can do so not only in their working environment but also for life. Cultivate confidence and be strong so that a man or people will listen to you, in general. Staying optimistic attracts more people, and becoming an aggressive lifelong student will help you stay on top.

• Limited access

Networks provide entrepreneurs with vital knowledge. Networks help businesses learn more and create significant links for additional resources and business development. It is challenging for women to find the connections they need when they start a firm and seek business growth advice. Networks are a haven for entrepreneurs, in particular, to learn about the rules of the game. They are a significant source of new business contacts.

• Lack of role models

Even with experience in the industry, you may never have begun a company before and therefore lack the business and financial knowledge listed above. For new business owners, role models and mentors are indispensable. The role of women entrepreneurs will help women develop their skills and trust, and solid network connections are available.

• It is challenging to find skilled persons who will meet this need for women entrepreneurs without solid networks and connections.
• Leaning on more seasoned business owners is particularly beneficial for women who have just started their business journey.

I had a client who was extremely talented and had the calibre to do something extraordinary with her skills. One day we were just sitting and talking and I told her why not to start her own venture. She gave me a blunt look and I was shocked. She had such great out of the box ideas but just because there was no role model she was wasting her talent. 

I told her to look up to women like Michelle Obama. Being the first lady of the United States, she never stepped back from her own identity. Even the daughter of Barack Obama used to work in Mc. Donald during her summer break.  This is the type of will and determination that one must have in their life. 

• Training

Women entrepreneurs need to be trained to operate and run a company successfully. Women who are still reluctant to undertake the business challenge should be educated.

• Machinery and technology selection

Women need support in machinery and technology selection. Assistance in technical fields must be given to them for the business unit to succeed.

• Investing

One of the most significant issues that women entrepreneurs face is money. Both family and government institutions should be generous in assisting them financially.

I had a client who had a very good idea of inventing something out of the box. She had all her plans ready but was not working on them. I asked her what was wrong and the reason she told me was surprising. Her husband was not allowing her to move forward as the family was not ready to support her idea financially. 

I told her to bring her husband the next day and with my support and counselling today she is a well known personality and her husband is standing with her like a rock. 

• Responsibilities

Many women have children, husbands, and other commitments in addition to becoming entrepreneurs or working professionals. Personal and professional obligations can force a woman to choose between her company and her family. Her family expects her to be a mother and a wife, while the company expects her to be a leader and demonstrate dedication. It is also more daunting for those who do not have social support because they must bear the entire burden alone. Some women can strike a balance between these two aspects of their lives, while others are completely overwhelmed.

• Business environment

Less developed business networks and social and traditional constraints that limit women’s involvement in business are among the obstacles that women face. Women are barred from owning businesses because of their religious beliefs. In certain countries, women may be forced to work with a male partner who will conduct business, negotiate, and represent the company. Despite these obstacles, the business world is increasingly tolerant of women’s abilities and efforts.

• Gender inequality

Less developed business networks and the balance of social and traditional constraints that limit women’s involvement in business are among the obstacles that women face. Women are barred from owning businesses because of their religious beliefs. 

In certain countries, women may be forced to work with a male partner who will conduct business, negotiate, and represent the company. Despite these obstacles, the business world is increasingly tolerant of women’s abilities and efforts.

12. Underestimation

It is difficult to believe, but women are still treated differently in our society. When compared to men doing similar jobs, women are paid less.

As a married woman, a housewife, and a mother, many women face challenges due to a lack of trust, expertise, and other factors and I also did the same.

Despite these difficulties, she accomplished her goals and set a precedent for all other female entrepreneurs out there, demonstrating that even though there are thousands of obstacles in your path attempting to destroy you and hinder you, all you have to do is battle them and continue on your path to success.

How life coaching helps women Entrepreneurs to cope with the above problems?

So, why does Bill Gates, a multimillionaire, say that everybody wants a coach? Coaching is a valuable tool for personal, technical, and business growth, but not everybody has access to one. 

Thousands of high-performing and super-successful people all over the world have achieved their goals without the assistance of a coach.

Role of a business coach for Women Entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs seeking business coaching are searching for ways to integrate tactics and resources that can help them simplify their business models and free up time. 

• One of the most important areas where female business coaches can help them is in finding and developing their ideal clients in a lucrative niche. 

• Without ideal premium clients who are willing to invest in themselves, there is no market. Anything less is a rollercoaster of anxiety.
• Women entrepreneurs want to make a difference, leave a lasting legacy, and do work that inspires them. 
• These high-achieving businesswomen seek to make more money and have a greater effect by working fewer hours so that they have more leisure, longevity, better health, and a higher standard of life. What’s the point if not? Is that correct?

Conclusion

To assist them in achieving the financial and personal independence that they crave. Is it possible for us to do it on our own? Of course, why not collaborate with someone who can assist you with getting there faster? That you can’t read the bottle label when you’re inside the bottle, not that they do the job for you.

Owning your business success as a woman inspires you to work harder and accomplish more. It motivates those around you. I, Ritu Singal has paved the way for more women to join corporate boardrooms. Confidence is a necessary component of success and development. When a woman takes the lead, others tend to follow. 

Throughout our day, we go through many different emotions. Do you ever wonder if what you feel in a day is reflected in other people also? Do you wonder if how your mood has anything to do with what millions of others feel?

You’d hardly given it a thought. However, your mood is somehow contributing to a larger collective mood. Do you know how?

Well, social media, the Internet, and the daily News cycle offer real-time insight into what is the nation’s mood. Let us take a simple and recent example. Around the same time last year, the world went under lockdown. All the nations were completely closed leaving people helpless.

What did we all do at our homes? We continuously checked the news to stay updated about the changes. Now, even though we could have been happy for the lockdown in the first place because it was the first time we got so much time to spend with our families, we weren’t really glad.

Do you know why? It was because we regularly checked our news feed. As we checked the news, we saw the cases rising, and how the healthcare and all sectors were suffering, we were meant to feel sad.

How could we be happy when people in the world were suffering. They might not be our friends or relatives, but we somehow felt their pain. I hope it gives you an idea about how your feelings on a given day have something to do with what millions of others are feeling or doing.

Moods that Fluctuate

Today, we have access to the entire world through our phones. Gone is the time when we could only collect information about the issues of our own country. People today know worldwide affairs and stand to help fellow people in other parts of the world.

All our moods, from collective happiness, kindness, calmness, vitality, and even alertness are somehow connected to something bigger. When you live in a community, whatever happens to the people around you, somehow reflects on your being. In fact, most of the problems around us are generated by us. 

Let us take another example to understand how our thoughts lead to problems on a global level. For instance, stress and aggression are building in the collective consciousness. In simple words, the entire community might be feeling stressed due to their own personal reasons.

As tension builds in the collective consciousness, social incoherence among individuals agitate which leads to sufferings in society. A very famous yogi once said, “ All occurrences or acts of violence, conflicts, crises, or negativity and problems are the direct outcomes of the build-up of stress in the collective consciousness.” Simply said, when the level of stress becomes too acute, it will erupt like a volcano. These eruptions bring crime, violence, social disorders, calamities, or even wars.

What is Collective Consciousness?

When we all suffer collectively, we all need a collective immunity to protect ourselves. Strengthening our collective immune system is the call of the hour. 

‘Collective consciousness’ has been referred to as the overall social atmosphere where we live in. It arises from the thoughts and behaviors of each individual member of society.

When the world suffers, we need a more harmonious atmosphere. It might not be in the hands of an individual to create a tranquil world. What we need is greater civility, cordiality and soul searching. If all nations’ collective consciousness remains stressed and tense, nothing can stop the suffering.

How our beliefs align with the beliefs of other people in society is a result of collective consciousness.

Many people keep a mindset where they are often quoted saying, “ I cannot bring a change alone.”

Well, if you’re aware of what collective consciousness is, then you’ll know how an individual can change the entire world. When you start seeing yourself as a part of society and not as an individual, then your transformation journey begins. Collective consciousness is all about understanding how a society works. 

While every human has his own individual consciousness, we also share solidarity with one another. The French theorist and sociologist Emile Durkheim suggested how we work together in many ways and how our collective consciousness is what allows it to happen.

How collective consciousness brings transformations?

Collective consciousness has brought many changes in the world. Although, today we’re more inclined towards science, and we trust the scientific results more. We tend to forget that science is a very new concept, as compared to the existence of the world.

There was no science to carry mankind in ancient times. What people believed was yogic culture. It was yoga and meditation that led mankind from ancient times. Have you ever wondered why there were no calamities or crimes in ancient times?

In the older times, people did not have any advancements and led a simple life. They would spend their days amidst the beauty of nature and would do their routine tasks. It was an era where the first humans were yet discovering many things. 

There was no competition, no greed for materialistic things, and no desire to interfere in the lives of other people. The only thing the ancient people were concerned about was ‘self-consciousness.’ They would spend days meditating on the banks of rivers to do some soul searching. They would rather stay happy with themselves. Now, when all the people were meditating, they were self-conscious. It created an aura where there was peace. The tranquility and simple-living were a result of collective consciousness.

Collective consciousness has shown many transformation results in history. But, before we move towards them, let us take a glance at how humans can come together to solve many crises.

For those who believe an individual cannot bring change, think about the protests and rallies that had been organized in history.

Let’s not forget ‘The Salt March’ organized by Mahatma Gandhi. It all began with a single person and led the entire nation to follow. When Indians were prohibited from collecting or selling salt and minerals were taxed, a collective feeling of agitation arose. It was the courage of Mahatma Gandhi and his style of peaceful protests that the entire nation rallied 241 miles across western India. 

When people come together, transformations do occur. All we need is a collective consciousness towards better mankind. 

Examples of Transformations Through Collective Consciousness 

To further understand the idea of collective consciousness, let us look into some real-time examples that work on this concept to bring about massive changes.

• Let Us Observe Ants

Let us see how collective consciousness works in mother nature. When we look around us, nature offers some of the best examples of this concept. One renowned and universally-accepted example of collective consciousness in nature is that of ants. When you observe ants carefully, you will find that they always live together in colonies. Think to yourself, have you ever seen an ant living on her own in a separate house?

No, because they believe in living in groups and contributing their share in the colony. However, if you remove and relocate a part of their colony they’ll still perform the same tasks that they were doing before. You might think it’s just a coincidence, but I suggest you try it on your own. Drop a food crumb that is large enough for a single ant to carry. Look for an ant that is far from the group and drop the crumb near her. You will immediately see other ants coming to the rescue. Now, you may do it in their colonies as well. 

What do you think brings these ants together? Is it the smell of food or telepathy? Well, it is a simple glimpse of collective consciousness in action.

• A Positive Mindset

For another example of collective consciousness let us study the power of positive thinking. One of the laws of attraction states that every moment of every day, each of us adds to and affects the balance of the collective. In simple words, each day our individuality brings a broader change in the group. We all know how we attract what we think, so a negative mind will attract negativity. Negative vibes lead to negative energy, and something negative would definitely happen to you that day. On the contrary, a simple act of kindness will make you happy and positive the entire day. Now, if you’ll stay positive, attract positive energy, and do positive things, people around you would too observe positivity around you. We often say, “I don’t talk to that person, he’s too negative.” 

You see, your vibes and thoughts are reflected through your words and caught by other people. In the same way, positivity spreads around collectively and influences people to believe that whatever happens, happens for the best.

• Predictions that Scare Us

You would have quite often observed how many people have a collective feeling about a particular incident. Sometimes, we make predictions and we do not even realize how they come true. You must have heard people saying, ‘I had a very strong feeling this was about to happen.’

Similarly in sports, it is quite often predicted who’d win the match and how those predictions turn true. Many true incidents have been reported by people worldwide about how they had a strong feeling about impending situations and how they came true later. For instance, a famous psychic had predicted the emergence of a life-threatening pandemic in 2020, and it did come true.

Now, you must be wondering if these people want bad things to happen or work towards changing their prophecies to reality. No, no one wants people to die or suffer. It is attributed to a collective consciousness or a strong sixth sense that is shared among people. 

• Healing from A Disease

You must have heard about this one before, a positive mindset is going to heal before a negative mindset. When we get sick, we often stuff so much negativity in our heads. We think, ‘ Why am I the only one sick?’ ‘ Will I ever get fine?’ and whatnot. We can truly heal and overcome illnesses by changing our minds. You might think your medicines will work wonders in healing you, but trust me, you cannot heal unless your mind wants to heal. Healing first begins from your mind and then from medications. It might sound foolish, but many people recover with a positive mindset and no medications. While being ill, we can either manifest illness or perfect health. For instance, you are sitting in a room of 20 people. These people have to choose a leader for themselves. Now 18 out of 20 men and women believe that you can be the best leader. The channel ‘collective consciousness’ through their bodies and put it into you. Now, you might not even be considering yourself as a candidate, but now their belief makes you believe in yourself. It is how wonderful collective consciousness is.

• The DNA influence

It is believed that our DNA has a strong influence on the collective consciousness. We all know how genetic memory has a powerful collaborating force. Even the ancient saints believed that our DNA responds to our thoughts and actions. It simply means our thoughts can influence our DNA. But, our DNA can also be influenced by the thoughts of people around us. For instance, when large groups focus on certain effects at the same time, the results become more noticeable. If the entire world manifests peace, the outcome would be felt almost immediately. If you manifest yourself, your DNA can bring change to the people around you. Why aren’t we moving towards World Peace then? 

Collective consciousness drives reality. Faith and belief act as a unifying force to understand universal mind connectedness. Once we start practicing this concept in everyday life, we’ll start seeing ourselves as one. There won’t be any discrimination, bullying, crimes, racism, and gender inequalities because mankind is much more than this. 

Learning skills are much more than just skills today. It is a critical soft skill that one must master to sustain in this competitive world. When it comes to building relationships and indulging in better communication, speaking skills alone do not help.

Most people underestimate the importance of listening skills when it comes to communication. People are restless and always ready to come up with a response. In fact, it is one of the prime reasons why people today form less valuable relationships and bonds.

Not only interpersonal or personal relationships but your work relations are equally affected when you’re not a good listener. I remember I had an employee. He was a very smart and sharp young man. Being skilled at his work, he would sometimes act overconfident. He would hardly listen to his seniors or attend meetings.

One day we were having a meeting, and I noticed his inattentiveness. I did not say anything to him at the moment but observed his action. When he was asked something, he would immediately respond, but would not listen to other people’s pointers. At the end of the meeting, I asked my secretary to not write the pointers of today’s meeting. I immediately asked that employee to write a summary of today’s presentations and discussions. He was quick to respond with, “ It isn’t my job, is it?” I said it wasn’t his job but an assignment. 

He was baffled and had no idea what all was discussed. However, being skilled and taking it as an assignment, he went to everyone to know the main points, re-watched the presentation, and worked very hard, and by the end of the day came up with the summary.

I smiled and asked him, “Will now you listen to what others say in the meetings?”

He understood my purpose in giving the assignment. From that day till now, he not just talks but also listens to everyone. 

Why are Listening Skills Important?

Listening is a highly essential component of communication. It is not something that just happens, but it is an active process in which a conscious decision is made to listen and understand the speaker’s message.

Active listening is all about patience where you don’t interrupt the speaker with questions or comments. Once I went for a lecture and saw some mischievous students creating disturbances. Their teacher was about to scold them for talking when I said I’ll handle the situation. 

I asked the group of four boys a simple question, “ If a black lady marries a white man, and they give birth to a black baby, what will be the color of the baby’s teeth?”

One of them stood and confidently said, “White.” Assuming there was no way a baby’s teeth could be of any other color, all the four boys agreed to white. I smiled and said, “Do babies have teeth?” They learned their lesson and apologized immediately. I asked them to always listen actively.

What are the different types of listening skills?

You must be wondering why it is important to embrace the different styles of listening. Well, understanding the different listening styles will help you learn how to use them and build better communication skills. You might think you are a good listener because you’re straightforward. However, many types of listening skills determine if you are a good communicator or not. 

Generally, the different listening types are categorized as:

• Evaluative listening

• Reflective Listening

It is generally seen that people master one of these styles of listening. However, one must learn both the listening style profiles to suit different situations. It will not only make you a more effective communicator but will also prevent miscommunication.  

7 Different Types of Listening Skills

• Discriminative Listening: Discriminative listening is the first form of listening that humans develop as babies. This type of listening is all about understanding the words of a speaker and judging the tone. The tone is used to understand the meaning and intention. In simple words, babies do not understand words. They only understand who is speaking and what mood they’re communicating. As adults, we do this type of listening when we are around people who speak different languages. When we do not understand a certain language, we rely on the tone of voice and inflection. Basically, we try to understand by relying on the mannerisms, body language, and facial expressions of the speaker to get their message.

• Comprehensive Listening: The second type of listening skill is a comprehensive listening skill. It is a critical listening skill that people develop in their early childhood. This type of listening skill requires basic language and vocabulary. One can understand simply what is being communicated through the speaker’s words. So, the everyday listening that we do is comprehensive listening where we simply listen and understand a person by their words. In day-to-day life, we use comprehensive listening along with verbal cues to understand the messages being communicated.

• Critical Listening: You must have heard people critically analyze a situation. It is the style of listening people use to analyze and judge some complex information. This type of listening is extremely important in the corporate sector. You cannot simply listen to what someone says. You need to analyze and simplify the complexity in their speech. For instance, if you’re solving a problem on the job or trying to decide if you agree with a proposal being floated by any of your coworkers. The word ‘critical’ here simply means evaluating information without passing a judgment.

• Informational Listening: As the name suggests, it is the informative type of listening, people use when they are trying to learn something. Now, you must be wondering how informational listening is any different from comprehensive listening. Well, it is different because this type of listening requires a high level of concentration. One everyday example is listening to lectures in school or colleges. When we do informative listening we engage to understand new concepts and technical jargon. When we try to learn something informative or value-adding, it is vital to pay attention and use informational listening skills. Most of the time, this type of listening does not require any emotional connection and is more about critical thinking.

• Sympathetic Listening: We can very much derive from the name what this type of listening is about. Empathetic listening is an emotionally-driven type of relationship listening. A listener processes the feelings and emotions of a speaker and tries to provide empathy, support, and understanding in return. Most people today lack the skill of sympathetic learning. People are so occupied in their own lives that they hardly dig out time to support their friends and family. It is also one of the reasons why mental health issues today are much more than what they were a few years back. This type of listening is very crucial and helps you form deeper connections with a person. It is always better to use this form of listening while helping a person who’s going through some adversity. 

• Selective Listening: Selective listening is also known as biased listening. It is a type of listening behavior that is demonstrated when someone is just listening for information they want to hear. You must have seen this type of listening in toxic relationships. In such relationships, one person often wants to hear exactly what they want. No matter if it is the truth or fair thing to listen. Most of the time, the validity of the speaker’s opinion is not judged in this form of listening. Another example of selective listening is at workplaces. We often see that some managers or bosses manipulate people to speak and do the things they want. They’ll listen only to the part that suits their ego. In fact, many times people do not even realize that they’re using a biased listening process. It is the form of listening that can create misunderstandings and miscommunications.

• Therapeutic Listening: The last form of listening is therapy listening. It is empathic listening most counselors and coaches use. In this type of listening, a listener tries to understand the point of view of a speaker without judging them. Generally, the listener puts themselves into the shoes of the speaker to understand their situation. It helps them share the emotions of the speaker in a far more relatable manner. This type of listening is done for therapy for mental health problems.

By understanding the different types of listening skills, one gets the knowledge of where to apply what type of listening. As I said before, listening is not a straightforward skill. It depends on your awareness and attitude.

What are the benefits of active listening?

There are many benefits of active listening. As I said earlier, most people ignore the importance of listening when it comes to communication. However, active listening is as important as replying to someone in a conversation. Some benefits of active listening include:

• Builds Trust: One thing that I have noticed with experience is that the better listener you are, the more people would like to talk to you. The people who cultivate the habit of listening sincerely, invite more people to open up with them. It shows that you do not jump to conclusions or judgments without completely listening to the other person. When you listen attentively, the other person feels you truly care about them. We all know how hard it is to build trust in today’s time. Active listening can help you form lifelong friendships.

• Increases Your Patience: Listening to someone without interrupting is a task of patience. It takes a lot of time to become a good listener. Regular efforts over time help you form the habit of listening patiently. However, when you learn how to stay silent and listen to what the other person has to say, you form the quality of patience in yourself. Patience is a quality that benefits a person throughout his or her life. A patient person has stronger relationships and personality.

• Your Learning Perspective Broadens: Now, I have always been an active listener. One reason for it was my learning attitude. I always wanted to learn new things from new people. So, whenever people used to talk, I would listen to them. When you start listening to people, you realize how much you have so much to learn from everyone. You may understand a situation according to your beliefs, but when you listen to other people you broaden your perspective. 

• You Become Approachable: How often do you think to yourself, “ Whenever you try to tell him your problem, he starts talking about his own problem” for some people? Very often, right. No one likes talking to a person who listens only to respond. We all want someone ready to listen to our adversities without stating their problems. So, when you’re a good listener, people approach you. They come to you because they love talking to you. People feel naturally more inclined to communicate with good listeners. 

• Enhances Competence: Now, competency can be of great quality at the workplace. Any recruiter or manager would choose a capable employee over hundred other employees. If you’re a good listener, you’ll take instructions and decisions more quickly. Moreover, you’ll get more information out of the meetings and reports because you were listening actively. It will help you in completing your task efficiently and attentively. Good listening skills are highly beneficial for employees.

• Problem Solving Becomes Easy: The root cause of the problem can only be detected if you were listening critically with concentration. When you’re attentive to what people have to say, you’ll notice flaws and solutions more quickly than others. In fact, you’ll be able to solve problems and come up with suggestions for improvement. It can again help you at your workplace where you can help your employees work better.

• Saves Time: You must be wondering if listening to someone must be such a waste of time. But do you know active listening actually saves a lot of your time? It is because when you’re listening attentively, you understand concepts and problems. It reduces the risks of making mistakes or redoing things. It also saves time as any type of misunderstanding is also avoided.

Now that you know how important and beneficial it is to have good listening skills, we should learn how you can improve your listening skills. 

How these listening skills exercises can help in effective communication?

Listening attentively is an art. It is as arduous as giving a presentation. Many people who work at higher levels have a habit of judging someone on their way of talking and listening. You might think your communication is only judged based on how you speak and how confidently you answer. It is not completely true.

While you are in a conversation, your listening style is equally important. Your body language and expressions say a lot about you and not just the words coming out of your mouth. If you are wondering how you can make a strong impression by using the right listening skills exercises, then here’s your guide to efficient listening mannerisms.

There are two main forms of listening exercises or active listening.

1. Non-verbal signs: The people who are listening should display any of these signs depending on the situation and environment.

• Smile: A smile is the simplest and most effective listening exercise to show the other person that you’re involved in the conversation. Small smiles at a time can be used to show that you’re paying attention to what is being said. Smiling is also a gesture that says you agree with the speaker or you’re happy with what is being said. You can combine smiling with little head nods to show affirmation of listening and understanding the words. 

• Make Eye Contact: One thing that is very arousing and engaging is making eye contact with the speaker. However, many people lack the confidence to see someone in their eyes when they talk. It is very encouraging for the speaker. However, you need to gauge how much eye contact is appropriate. Well, you don’t want to scare the speaker with constant eye contact.

• Your posture matters: Being a life coach, I check a person’s posture. A person’s way of sitting or standing says a lot about their presence and involvement at the moment. Just like in school, how your teacher would easily recognize when the students used to get bored of the lecture. Your posture can tell a lot about the sender and receiver during interpersonal interactions. An attentive listener would lean forward or rest their head on hand. All these postures show that you’re interested in the conversation.

• Level of Distraction: Well, in today’s time, how attentively you are listening completely depends on how less you get distracted. If you’re talking to someone and every message that pops distracts you, the speaker might not want to continue talking. Some people start looking at the clock, or playing with hair or anything that’s nearby, or start using their phones. All such actions show how you are refraining from being a part of the conversation. You must not do such exercise, and it is a major turn-off

2. Verbal signs: As the name suggests, verbal signs show your attention and involvement through words and not just actions. 

• Positive Affirmations: One of the simplest signs of attentiveness is positive reinforcement. You can use words like ‘indeed’ or ‘true’ or ‘I agree’ to indicate that you’re paying attention. However, too much use can be annoying for the speaker.

• Ask Questions: During school, your teacher would ask you questions in-between the lecture to check how many students were attentive listening. Only a few would answer the question, and the other students would remain mentally inactive during classes. In the same way, when you’re listening to someone who’s telling you something new, you should ask relevant questions or make statements to clarify doubts. It helps the listener reinforce that you have an interest in what the speaker is saying.

• Try To Remember: If you’re listening to someone with attention, you’ll remember what they say. You can use names or places mentioned in the conversations to prove to the speaker that you were listening to all this time. Remembering details encourages the speaker to continue.

Final Words

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of active listening in our day-to-day lives. From friendships, relations, bonds, and the workplace, everything revolves around how you communicate. So, next time do not just focus on speaking well, but also on listening actively.

Our listening skills coaching and communication skills coaching are designed to cover all aspects of personality development. You can consult today to improve your skills.