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THE ART OF ACTIVE LISTENING

Mar 05, 2023

Active listening is an essential skill to master in order to develop strong relationships and effective communication. It involves paying attention to what someone is saying, asking relevant questions, and providing feedback. Active listening helps us understand the speaker’s point of view, identify their needs and wants, and build trust. By being an active listener, we can create a safe environment for meaningful conversations that will lead to better understanding between two people.

Active listening is an act of being engaged with another person by listening to them carefully. It is about focusing attention, asking questions and offering feedback in order to understand the speaker's thoughts, feelings and perspective.The idea of active listening was influenced by the work of Carl Rogers, who believed that the quality of a relationship could be measured by the quality of its communication.

There are several ways to practice mindful listening. Here are a few:

  1. Be fully present: To practice mindful listening, it's important to be fully present and focused on the speaker. This means setting aside distractions and giving the speaker your undivided attention.

  2. Listen without judgment: Avoid judging or evaluating what the speaker is saying. Instead, simply listen with an open mind and without interrupting.

  3. Pay attention to nonverbal cues: In addition to listening to what the speaker is saying, pay attention to their body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. This can help you to gain a deeper understanding of their message and emotions.

  4. Reflect back what you've heard: To ensure that you've understood the speaker's message, reflect back what you've heard in your own words. This can help to clarify any misunderstandings and demonstrate that you've been actively listening.

  5. Practice empathy: Try to see the situation from the speaker's perspective and acknowledge their emotions. This can help to build a stronger connection and sense of trust between you and the speaker.

  6. Take time to respond: Once the speaker has finished, take a moment to pause and reflect before responding. This can help to ensure that your response is thoughtful and considerate.