You're probably not as good a listener as you think! In fact, for most people listening to others is not always easy. Many professionals believe they are attentive, but 70% of them have almost no sense of listening in the workplace, according to a report from the University of Southern California. In other words, you have to be smart if you want to catch someone's attention.
Here are two simple and practical techniques that can help you in this situation.
- Don't say anything
You are in a meeting room, chatting with colleagues. One of the best things to do if you want to attract attention to silence people is to stand in front of them and say nothing. Simply standing up physically in a position where everyone can see you can be a good idea to "steal" everyone's interest. It only takes four seconds for silence to become awkward, according to a Dutch psychological study published in 2011. It may be uncomfortable for you too, but awkwardness "usually attracts people."
-Make a provocative statement
Saying something impactful or provocative can have a similar effect of drawing others' attention to you. Simply put, don't ask for control, just demonstrate it. Exercising control, whether it's by asking a question, remaining silent, or making some kind of provocative statement, will help people listen to you.
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Source: HuffPost
