Active Listening What is it and how do

Active Listening What is it and how do we practice it?

Confidential Customized for Lorem Ipsum LLC Version 1. 0 TOC Overview What is active listening? Why is it effective? Five Ways To Listen Better Ways to show you are listening Practice / Still Face Experiment

Overview In active listening, the speaker will notice that the listener is actively listening. There are verbal and nonverbal cues that indicate whether or not someone is actively listening. Active listening is important in friendships, professional settings, and even in an acquaintanceship. But what is it, exactly? Simply put, active listening is the difference between listening and hearing. One can audibly hear a sound and forget about it five minutes later. It takes listening to be able to hear the sound, and then describe or recreate it. Active listening requires presence and reflection. HELLO?

Why is it effective? 1 2 The speaker feels important. When someone is talking to you, it is usually because they need something, value your opinion, think you would find the topic interesting, or want your advice. The listener is consciously aware. The speaker is able to pause and explore his or her own thoughts or feelings. The listener is forced to remain neutral, since the main objective is to listen. 3 4 It is hard to fake. While it is possible to mimic non-verbal signs of active listening, it is very difficult to mimic verbal signs of listening and comprehension. It is much easier to provide feedback. If someone comes to you with a problem or an idea, the listener is more likely to be able to provide feedback or a solution if he or she was actively listening to the speaker.

Five Ways To Listen Better.

Ways to show you are listening. . .

Ways to show you’re listening. . . 01 ● ● React to what is being said. Smile, laugh or frown based on what the speaker is saying. Reflect back what the speaker is saying. “So what you’re telling me is. . . ” Make eye contact, but don’t stare. Glancing away is normal. Be mindful of cultural considerations. Put your phone on silent, or put it away.

Ways to show you’re listening. . . 02 ● ● ● Do not be quick to offer a solution. Say things like, “I can understand how the must be frustrating for you. ” An active listener will sit up straight, lean in, or even lean to the side. Do not slouch! Be mindful of how the conversation starts. Look for cues to gauge how important the conversation is.

Let’s practice. . . Practice active listening. Pair up. Have one person tell a story and the other practice active listening. Then, switch roles. Afterword, we’ll do a little experiment. . .

Thank you.