The Art of True Listening

Most people don't listen to understand – they listen to respond. Active listening is a skill that can transform your professional relationships and make you a valued team member.

Core Active Listening Techniques:

• Give Full Attention: Put away your phone, close unnecessary tabs, turn your body toward the speaker. This shows respect and helps you absorb information.
• Avoid Interrupting: Let the speaker finish their thoughts completely before you respond. Even if you think you know what they'll say, wait.
• Use Verbal Acknowledgments: Simple phrases like 'I see,' 'Go on,' or 'That makes sense' encourage the speaker to continue.
• Paraphrase and Reflect: Repeat back what you heard in your own words: 'So what you're saying is...' This confirms understanding and shows engagement.
• Ask Clarifying Questions: Instead of making assumptions, ask questions to understand better: 'Can you give me an example?' or 'What do you mean by...?'
• Notice Non-Verbal Cues: Watch for body language and emotional signals that might not match the words being said.

Common Listening Barriers:

Be aware of these obstacles to effective listening:

• Planning your response while the other person is still speaking
• Making judgments or jumping to conclusions
• Getting distracted by your own thoughts or emotions
• Focusing on specific words instead of the overall message

Practice Activity:

In your next conversation, commit to listening for 5 minutes without speaking except to ask clarifying questions. Notice how this changes the interaction.