The trouble with a lot of people in business (as demonstrated on the recent series of the
apprentice is that they don’t listen. Most people don’t realise that listening is a skill,
and through practice it can be improved.

1) Repeat Procedure – this is will dramatically improve your level of recall and concentration. Simply, whatever anyone says, repeat it in your head as, or just after they say it. You can
practice this anywhere, the effect is that you effectively hear everything twice.

2) Questioning – have mastered repeating, add in another skill, by questioning what people
are saying, in your head, as they say it. This helps to imbed what they are saying in your
long term memory, and internalises the key issues.

3) Noises – speaking to a silent audience is frustrating. So, let the speaker know you are
listening, the occasional “right” “ok” “really” will make everything flow far more smoothly.