Active Listening: A skill every auditor should embrace.
Being an active listener can make a difference in the quality of the audit outcome and the added-value for the auditee.
According to the ISO 19011:2018 standard, collect information through effective interviewing, listening, observing and reviewing documents is a skill to apply the appropriate principles, procedures and methods (clause 7.2.3.2 Generic knowledge and skills of management system auditors).
Listening is one of the most important skills you can have for effective communication. As an auditor, being an active listener can make a difference in the quality of the audit outcome and the added-value for the auditee.
Here are some tips to achieve active listening:
- Pay attention. Give the speaker your undivided attention and acknowledge the message.
- Show that you are listening and encourage the speaker.
- Provide feedback.
- Ask questions to clarify certain points.
Listening is not only for auditing purposes, but it will also help you with all the activities you made. Check out this article about how listening drives motivation
If you can show people you care and make them feel heard, you’ll endear them to you, engage them with their work and motivate them to give their extra discretionary effort to you and your company.
How do you work on your communication skills improvement?