Effective on-the-job speaking starts with effective and sincere listening.

Active listening can be one of your most powerful communication tools. There is a definite correlation between the ability to listen and the ability to persuade. It is not possible to be persuasive if you have not listened carefully. This is particularly important in sales.

Fortunately, active listening is a skill you can master. Use body language to establish rapport with the speaker. Remain alert and maintain eye contact. Use facial expressions and simple gestures such as nodding, raising eyebrows and leaning forward to convey interest. Interject with occasional comments such as "I see" and "I understand." Ask questions to clarify a point or provide you with additional information.

Make it a point to:

Focus on the speaker, not on what you are saying.

Ignore Distractions.

Avoid interrupting.

Practice memory association to improve recall.

Mentally summarize and recap the main points.

Avoid interjecting your thoughts or anticipating the next words.

Use body language to encourage.

Allow time to process what you heard.

Think before you speak.

The key to successful communication in business and social situations lies in the fine art of active listening. Pay attention and you may be surprised what you will learn.

Learn more ways to improve your professional communications with Building the Power of Your Voice: How to Improve Your Voice to Command Attention & Move People to Actionhttp://101publicrelations.com/voicepower.html?utm_source=prideas&utm_content=voice_power