As a business major, I am involved in a lot of discussions having to do with communication skills. I get asked questions like, “What is the most important skill to have in the workplace?” and “What is the number one skill you look for in a teammate?”
I could answer these questions in some different ways. It’s important to be a good nonverbal communicator, like using eye contact, having a good handshake, and making sure you have a professional appearance. Or I could say it’s important to think on your feet, be able to answer questions about the topic, and speak confidently.
But this is the one skill that, in my opinion, is the absolute most important trait when interviewing or communicating in general: Listening.
Listen with your eyes, ears, hands, and body, and don’t just pretend to listen, actually listen. How often do we hold conversations with professors, peers, and coworkers where we nod our heads and laugh when we’re supposed to, but we don’t listen well enough to even know what to say in response? If we put our all into listening to whoever is speaking, the other skills will come naturally. We’ll be more inclined to ask questions, hold a conversation, and we’ll be ready to respond when it’s really our turn to talk.
Focusing on listening to whoever is speaking, especially in an interview scenario, takes away a lot of the pressure. You begin to realize that what the interviewer is saying on their end is just as important as what you’re saying on yours. The workplace for many of us will be all about working as a team, doing our part, and respecting the people we work with. Being a good listener is the first step to being successful in every area because it means you’re hearing others’ opinions and ideas, and making an effort to think outside of yourself.
There are thousands of skills we could focus on and honestly should learn before graduating, but listening should be number one. Try putting down your phone, setting aside your to-do list, and really listening to the next person you talk to. Not only will they be impressed, but you might just impress yourself.