Listening to users, stakeholders, and dev team members is crucial for product people. It helps us build rapport, generate new insights, and make inclusive decisions. Unfortunately, we can get so busy updating and convincing others that we forget to attentively listen to the individuals we communicate with. This article shares 12 techniques to help you improve your listening habits and become even better at understanding others.
Listen to Understand, Not to Answer
"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply," wrote Steve Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It's true: we often listen with a specific goal in mind, with the intention to reply, to share our perspective, or to convince the other person. As a consequence, we don't pay full attention to what the other person is saying or filter what is being said; we only hear what supports our view. We obtain partial or selected pieces of information, which can cause us to draw the wrong conclusions and get the wrong end of the stick. To avoid these issues, start by taking a sincere interest in the individual and what the person has to say. Make a conscious effort to listen to understand, not to reply, correct, or criticize.