This communicates that you are uninterested in what the speaker is saying. Signs of distraction include looking away, humming, doodling, checking your phone, texting, or surfing the web. Be respectful of others’ opinions, and keep in mind that cultural differences can impact beliefs, values, and communication styles. Who would you rather be talking to?Įven if the listener doesn’t agree with the speaker, it is important to acknowledge that the speaker has a right to their point of view, their ideas and their feelings. Smiling and nodding indicates that you are following what the speaker is saying and that you are interested to hear more.Īctive listening is so much more than hearing words. Crossing arms can be interpreted as rejection of the message (though this can be confusing as sometimes it may just mean the listener is feeling cold). Being attentive to the speaker, which is demonstrated through eye contact, body language, and facial expressions.įor example, leaning in toward a speaker shows interest in what the speaker is saying, as opposed to leaning away and crossing arms.Showing sensitivity to the speaker’s point of view.Focusing and giving undivided attention avoid distractions.Paying attention to body language, gestures, and tone of voice.Reiterating in your own words what you think they meant in order to clarify meaning and understand intentions.Asking questions and asking for clarification about what the speaker is saying.Waiting for the speaker to finish speaking before responding don’t interrupt.Conveying to the speaker that you are really listening (i.e.the listener fully understands the speaker.) How many of the body language signals from each side do you think you exhibit? How can you add more of the attitudes and actions in the first list to your own behaviours? How can you control those behaviours you recognize in yourself from the second list?Īctive listening should accomplish two things: Now compare these lists with your own behaviour. Use these items to create your second list. Describe what actions and postures they use to show they are not listening. Focus on what they do, not what they are saying. Picture that person clearly in your mind. Think of a person you consider a poor listener. Use these items to create your first list. Describe what actions and postures they use to show they are listening. Think of a person you consider an excellent listener. The principles of active listening are not hard to understand, but they are hard to implement and require practice to use them effectively. Listening is an active process, as opposed to hearing, which is passive.īeing an active listener takes concentration and work. “With the objective of understanding” means that you will learn enough about what the speaker is saying to be able to form your own thoughts about the speaker’s message. “Purposefully focusing” implies that you are actively processing what the speaker is saying, not just letting the sounds of their voice register in your senses. This definition is straightforward, but there are some important concepts that deserve a closer look. Active listening requires focus and attention. Listening is nothing more than purposefully focusing on what a speaker is saying with the objective of understanding. And it is a skill that will benefit you on the job and help your relationships with others. Effective listening is one of the most important learning tools you can have in college or university. We’re distracted, thinking about other things, or formulating what we are going to say in reaction to what we are hearing before the speaker has even finished.
Active listening is being engaged as a listener, not just hearing the words.Īre you a good listener? Most of us like to think we are, but when we really think about it, we recognize that we are often only half-listening. People usually love to be heard but are often not as excited about listening.
Listening is an essential part of communication and is often the weakest link in the communication process.
Being a good communicator involves not only being good at speaking.
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