Developing Listening Skills

Date:  Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Time:  8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location:  Zoom Video Conference
Cost:  Free NECA Members
$250 for Non-NECA Members and for No-Shows

Click here to register for this seminar

About this Course:  Most people believe that they listen effectively.  Consequently, very few people take the time to learn and develop the skills to be an active, intentional listener.  Listening is a skill that can be developed.  When we do it correctly, we can build trust, demonstrate empathy and respond (not react) to others’ communication.  Listening is a whole body technique: it is not shutting up, being stoic or thinking about what you are going to say.  This seminar will review how to improve your listening skills, and how to use body language and appropriate eye contact in order for effective intentional listening to take place.  After attending this seminar, participants will walk away with a broader understanding of both verbal and nonverbal cues in conversation and be able to more effectively focus on the actual communication being presented.

This curriculum will incorporate:

  • The Definition of Listening:  Understanding what listening truly entails beyond just hearing words.
  • Active Listening Skills:  Learning techniques to actively engage with the speaker.
  • Interpreting Non-Verbal Cues:  Gaining skills to read body language and other non-verbal signals to understand the full message.
  • Empathy in Listening:  Developing the ability to listen with empathy to better relate to and understand colleagues.  We are not just listening to the issue or situation.
  • Identifying Listening Barriers:  Recognizing and overcoming personal and environmental obstacles that hinder effective listening.
  • Effective Questioning:  Mastering the art of asking questions that clarify and deepen understanding of the speaker’s message.
  • Listening in Difficult Situations:  Strategies for maintaining effective listening during conflicts or emotional conversations.
  • Feedback and Listening:  Learning how to listen to feedback constructively and how to provide feedback in a way that encourages dialogue.

Eric Herdman is an accomplished speaker, business leader, and facilitator, who has been speaking professionally in-person for almost three decades and a s a virtual presenter for nearly five years.  He draws from his experiences as a small business owner and competitive ultra-endurance athlete to entertain, inform, educate and engage audiences into action.

Eric works with a variety of clients, from government agencies and multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical companies to top financial institutions and national associations.  He has published multiple books, most recently Time Energy Focus and The Power of Communication.