Time to Brush Up on the Seven Components of Active Listening
Have you ever had a leader who was only waiting for their turn to talk? It probably felt like everything you had to say went in one ear and out the other.
Active listening involves engaged communication in which people concentrate on fully understanding the message communicated by an individual.
This form of listening requires the complete engagement of the senses, sight, hearing, and nonverbal language, in order to understand not only the words but also the intonation, emotion, and underlying context.
In contrast to inactive listening, active listening promotes trust, empathy, and mutual regard between the people involved in communication.
When you’re an active listener, you:
Pay attention: Turning your total concentration to the speaker without interruptions or distractions. Staying focused on the speaker’s eyes and showing interest through non-verbal gestures (e.g., nodding).
Avoid making assumptions: You resist the instinct to draw conclusions based on previous experiences or preconceptions about the topic.Â
Paraphrase and reflect: Checking whether you have understood the message, summarize or repeat it in your own words.
Ask questions: To stimulate further discussion and deepen topics, it is important to ask questions that require detailed answers and are not limited to a simple yes or no. Open questions provide an incentive to further deepen thoughts, emotions, and points of view.
Express an opinion: Sharing one’s thoughts, feelings or impressions about the topic, considering the interlocutor’s point of view. Providing a constructive response shows support and strengthens the connection between the people involved in the conversation.
Are patient: Remaining patient means allowing the speaker adequate time to assemble their thoughts and express them in an understandable way. (Information can be lost or misinterpreted due to haste or interruptions).
Remember the details: Try to keep crucial elements that have been addressed during previous dialogues in mind. Referring to these details shows a sincere interest and a willingness to establish a solid relationship.
With constant commitment and conscious effort, you’ll ace your conversations and build more team trust.Â
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