The Manager's Pocket Guide to Virtual Teams

Step A.Listen

•   What it means:

—   Hearing and interpreting verbal cues

•   How it works:

—   Resist distractions

—   Suspend judgment

—   Recall the content

—   Reflect upon the meaning

—   Reflect upon the volume, tone, pace, or writing style

—   Paraphrase the content

The Idea

Listening means hearing and interpreting the written and verbal cues a person presents to you. Often someone will set the stage for you, present a topic, and then say what is most important to them. If you get caught up in the general topic, you may not receive the most significant message.

At a fundamental level, it is important for everyone to have a sense of how much time they spend listening and how much time they spend talking. Listening is particularly important ...