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How to Get People to Listen to You

It can be really frustrating when you have some thing that you want to say if people don’t take any notice of you. However, if you are saying the right things in the right way at the right time, you can make great progress in how to get people to listen to you.

1. Make sure you have the correct information

Nobody will want to listen to you if you are trying to tell them something they know or suspect to be wrong. Check your facts first before you try to present them.

2. Pick the right time

You will be aware that there are times when you are just too busy or hurried to take onboard any new information. It is the same scenario for everyone else in the world too. So, if you need to tell somebody something important, don’t tell them just as they are leaving the office or are setting off for work, or when they are trying to cook dinner for the family.

They just won’t physically be capable of listening to you properly at that point and you will be wasting their time and yours.

3. Select a good situation

Do you need to have privacy for when you tell the other person what you need to tell them? If so, ensure that you get the privacy and don’t just jump at the first opportunity you get to talk to them.

Maybe you need to arrange to have the kids babysat while you talk properly with your spouse. Again, arrange it properly and take the stress out of the situation.

4. Avoid distractions

This is linked to the previous point and is particularly pertinent where it is serious or bad news which you need to pass on to the other person. Switch off the TV and get away from other people in order to be able to talk effectively one-on-one.

If you want people to listen to you at a conference or meeting, you should also cut out distractions. Make sure that no-one not connected to the meeting will wander into the room and interrupt. Put up a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign if necessary. Switch off noisy fans or lights which buzz.

5. Don’t distract your listeners

You carry a lot of the responsibility for whether or not someone listens to you attentively. So, don’t exhibit annoying mannerisms like fiddling with your sleeves or collar, even if you’re nervous. If you do, that is what your audience will remember, not what you said to them.

6. Don’t talk for too long

If you are speaking to people, be aware that they will take in much less information than if they had it in front of them to read. So don’t talk for long. Fifteen minutes maximum is the longest time that most adults can attentively listen to an oral presentation and for children it is much less time.

7. Make your message clear

Make sure you present a logical argument, with all your points in the correct order. Keep your sentences short and direct.

8. Pause

Every few sentences, you should stop and look at your audience. This allows you to judge how well the audience are receiving your words. More importantly, it allows the listeners to catch up with you and process what you’re saying. Listening attentively is hard work so they need the occasional break or their brains will just switch off whether you want them to or not.

9. Be good to listen to

Vary your tone of voice in volume and pitch to make your presentation interesting. You can also use these techniques to draw attention to specific parts of the speech.

If you follow these steps for how to get people to listen to you, you should get an attentive audience, no matter how big or small. That will enable you to effectively get your point across to your listeners.