Improve communication with active listening

Abstract

Project managers spend most of their time communicating with different stakeholders and efficient communication is the key to project success [1]. Communication is the act of delivering or receiving information and can be written and oral, formal and informal, even nonverbal in the form of body language and the actions one performs. Common to all forms of communication is that when performed effectively, it creates relationships between different stakeholders and eliminate misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the information delivered or received. A mean to eliminate such misunderstandings and misinterpretations are Active listening, an interpersonal skill. Active listening includes acknowledging the receipt of the information through e.g. nodding, clarifying and confirming by asking questions, understanding and removing barriers which can affect the receivers understanding of the information communicated. The sample interactive communication model [2] illustrates the process of communication as well as noise obstructing effective communication and active listening. When practising active listening with different stakeholders a project manager will illustrate respect to the person speaking by attempting to understand their point of view. On the other hand, if active listening is not utilized correctly or overperformed it will have the opposite effect as the project manager will seem arrogant for repeating and interrupting the speaker. The communication tool active listening is limited to face-to-face or telephone conversations and barriers to performing active listening exist both verbal and nonverbal. The purpose of this article is to describe what active listening is and how it can strengthen stakeholder relationships.

References

1 Frank Cervone, H. (2014). Effective communication for project success. Oclc Systems and Services, 30(2), 74–77. https://doi.org/10.1108/OCLC-02-2014-0014 2 Project Management Institute, Inc.. (2017). Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th Edition) - 10. Project Communications Management. (pp. 372). Project Management Institute, Inc. (PMI). Retrieved from https://app.knovel.com/hotlink/pdf/id:kt011DXH02/guide-project-management/project-communications