1. I. True or False
If you are facing the person speaking, you're always actively
listening.
2. Even if you are silent while someone else speaks, you might not
be actively listening.
3. Listening means to pay attention to sound and be alerted to catch
an expected sound.
Hearing is to apprehend by the ear while listening is to gain
knowledge of by hearing.
5. Active listening skills help you to communicate your ideas and
knowledge more effectively.
4.hearing is to apprehend by the ear while listening is to gain knowledge of by hearing
2
How to Practice Active Listening
Active listening involves more than just hearing someone speak. Here are some active listening techniques to master.
Pay Attention [and Show It]
Concentrate fully on what is being said. Listen with all your senses and give your full attention to the speaker. Put away your phone, ignore distractions, avoid daydreaming, and shut down your internal dialogue.
To show the person you're truly tuned in, look at them and be mindful of nonverbal behaviors. Use open, non-threatening body language. Avoid folding your arms. Smile, lean in, and nod at key junctures. Consciously control your facial expressions, avoiding any that convey negative impressions.
Making eye contact is especially important. In general, aim to maintain it for 60% to 70% of the time you spend listening.
Reflect What You Hear
Paraphrase what the person has said, rather than offering unsolicited advice or opinions. For example, you might say, "In other words, what you are saying is that you're frustrated" or "I'm hearing that you're frustrated about this situation." Summarize what you've heard. Mirroring what the person has said helps them feel validated and understood.
Withhold Judgment
Remain neutral and non-judgmental in your responses so that the person feels safe enough to continue sharing their thoughts. Make the conversation a safe zone where the person can trust they won't be shamed, criticized, blamed, or otherwise negatively received.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Avoid "yes or no" questions; they often produce dead-end answers. Instead, ask open-ended questions about the person to show you are interested in them and to encourage thoughtful, expansive responses.
If you'd like to better understand something the person has said, ask for clarification. But don't focus so much on insignificant details that you miss the big picture.
Be Patient
Don't interrupt, fill periods of silence with speech, finish the person's sentences, or top the story [for example, saying "that reminds me of the time I..."]. Similarly, listen to understand, not to respond. That is, don't prepare a reply while the other person is still speaking; the last thing they say might change the meaning of what they've already said. Don't change the subject abruptly; this conveys boredom and impatience.
When you listen actively, you are fully engaged and immersed in what the other person is saying.
Much like a therapist listening to a client, you are there to act as a sounding board rather than to jump in with your own ideas and opinions about what is being said.