Any experienced network marketer will tell you that effective communication skills are the key to building successful business relationships. And any experienced communicator will tell you that the key to successful communication is listening. Though this seems painfully obvious to many, effective listening skills aren’t achieved overnight. It takes time and know-how to properly listen.

To successfully listen, you must not only understand the words being communicated, but you must also understand how the speaker feels about what is being communicated.14664495_S

Effective listening is important because it does four things:

  1. Makes the speaker feel as though they are heard and clearly understood, which builds a stronger connection between communicators.
  2. Creates an environment where everyone feels comfortable to articulate ideas, opinions and feelings, or strategize and problem solve creatively.
  3. Saves time by clarifying information and avoiding misunderstandings.
  4. Reduces negative emotions and helps the speaker feel that they have been fully heard.

The goal of network marketers should be to completely understand and connect with the other person.

This can be done by following these simple rules:

  • Focus entirely on the speaker’s verbal and nonverbal language. If you’re not making eye contact and reacting directly to what the speaker is saying, you’re almost certain to miss both verbal and nonverbal cues in the conversation. Plus, a speaker typically knows that your mind is elsewhere by reading your facial expressions and focus.
  • Avoid interrupting or trying to redirect the conversation. Proper listening is not the same thing as simply waiting for your turn to talk. It’s impossible to concentrate on what the speaker is saying if the listener is deciding what to say next.
  • Avoid judgment. Communicating effectively has nothing to do with whether or not you like them or agree with their ideas, values or opinions. But you do need to withhold any judgment, blame and criticism in order to fully understand a person. Once you set aside these tendencies, the speaker and listener can reach a profound connection. But this connection cannot be achieved if the listener is making pre-judgments.
  • Be overtly interested. You can do this by nodding periodically, smiling at the speaker and making sure your posture is inviting. Small encouragements like “yes” and “ok, right” can go a long way in making the speaker feel connected and comfortable.

Network marketing success cannot be reached if others don’t trust or believe in what you’re doing. Whether you’re recruiting, building a customer case or simply communicating with a co-worker or employee, communication is paramount in establishing this trust. So listen closely, and let benefits of effective communication lead you to network marketing success.