How note-taking will help you become a better listener in business

Listening goes a long way at work, which makes it a valuable skill to hone

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One of the most valuable things a modern company can be is efficient. As the web and digital industries continue to grow and unfold at rapid speeds, most working professionals have ended up in some sort of environment where we felt like there was a lot of wasted time. Sometimes broad strategies fail to come to fruition because of poor systems. Other times, a company or team can have too many systems to the point where it impedes workflow.

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How to hone in on valuable information

When you’re trying to create a more efficient workflow or team, then you want to consider how you and everyone are processing information being shared about projects, sales, etc. It might sound simple, but promoting listening and trying to be a more active listener is the first step towards cutting through the noise. Sabina Nawaz covers this in this Harvard Business Review piece Becoming a Better Listener by Taking Notes. In it, the writer covers how in team environments, we often don’t listen as well as we can, because we’re waiting to get our own word in.

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Tips for listening in a more valuable way

In the article, Nawaz also gives talks about how note-taking is one of the best ways to promote better listening. Taking notes forces you to digest what you’re taking notes about, rather than compartmentalizing and waiting to speak. But, what do you do with those notes ? Nawaz writes, “You may already take notes during meetings, but unless you’re using them wisely to understand others and plan your response, you may still fall into the same trap of speaking before you think.”

So how should I think about my notes?

Consider mind-mapping them. You can get a Zen Mind Map Pro Lifetime Subscription for $63.99 for a limited time. With it, you can create intuitive mind maps that help organize your notes, brainstorms and agendas in clear, simple, intuitive graphics. These are easy to download and share with team members. Rated 4.5/5 stars on AppSumo, this is a great tool to help improve note-taking and listening at work.

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