Build empathy with active listening

True communication is a two-way street. While it’s easy for many people to speak their mind and convey their thoughts, listening can be quite challenging for some. It’s normal to want to tune out the other person and shoulder the conversation with one’s perspective, but doing so ultimately undermines the whole purpose of communication, to connect with others and build relationships.

One way to develop superb communication skills is by mastering active listening. This listening technique is an essential life skill that not only improves communication but also builds empathy. Active listening sets the foundation of any healthy relationship and can be used to improve one’s personal and professional life.

What is Active Listening?

Active listening is a way of listening with intent and purpose. It’s a conscious effort to concentrate and concentrate on the speaker’s speaking points rather than just hearing them. The act of active listening helps to build a bridge that connects the listener with the speaker. It helps to establish a better understanding of the message delivered by the speaker, and puts the listener in a position to respond appropriately.

Active listening is when one shows enthusiasm in the conversation and is fully present in the conversation or meeting. One way of achieving this is by being comfortable in one’s own skin, being confident and self-assured. This results in being able to pay attention and focus on the conversation at hand.

Active listening is being able to comprehend the message being transmitted, empathize with the speaker, and interact by asking relevant questions and showing interest. It’s also about giving presents, respecting the speaker, and providing a safe space for them to speak.

Why is Active Listening Important?

Listening is critical in building trust and breaking down barriers. Active listening builds empathy and helps the listener to understand the speaker’s viewpoint. It makes the communicator feel heard, understood, and valued, and in turn, strengthens the relationship. With active listening, you’ll be able to encourage engagement, promote creativity, and improve productivity.

Active listening is an essential skill that must be developed, especially in the workplace. It’s shown that the average employee only retains up to 25% of the information they hear on the job. This means that without active listening, crucial workplace information can be lost, resulting in misunderstandings, decreased productivity, and miscommunication.

Additionally, active listening helps to solve conflicts and is an antidote to misunderstandings and assumptions. In everyday life, conflicts are inevitable, but being able to listen actively can help dissipate conflicts.

The Benefits of Active Listening

• Increased Confidence: Active listening requires actively paying attention to the speaker. By doing so, the listener is better able to understand the message being transmitted, and this boosts their confidence. They can then ask relevant questions and provide feedback confidently and accurately.
• Improved Communication: Active listening ensures clear communication by removing assumptions and ambiguities from the conversation. It establishes a better understanding of the message being conveyed and helps the speaker to convey it in a concise and straightforward manner.
• Build empathy: When one focuses deeply on paying attention to the speaker, it helps to build empathy with them. This can easily lead to an increased understanding of their emotions, behaviour, and needs.
• Improved Relationships: Practicing active listening helps to build better relationships by creating a mutual respect for each other’s opinions and emotions. It’s a powerful tool that helps to connect people and build trust.
• Conflict Resolution: Conflicts often arise as a result of misunderstandings and assumptions. Active listening helps to solve conflicts by better understanding the speaker’s point of view while also conveying one’s point of view.

How to Effectively Practice Active Listening

1. Pay Attention: One of the most important steps in active listening is paying attention. Focus on what the speaker is saying and give them your full attention. Avoid any distractions, like your phone, and make eye contact.
2. Provide Feedback: Provide feedback while the speaker is speaking. Nodding your head, saying “uh-huh”, “okay” or “I see” shows that you’re actively engaged in the conversation. It encourages the speaker and lets them know you’re listening.
3. Show Empathy: Try to put yourself in the speaker’s shoes and show empathy. This can be achieved by acknowledging their emotions, both verbally and non-verbally. Use phrases like “That must have been frustrating for you” or “I understand how you feel.”
4. Avoid Interrupting: Interruptions can be a significant barrier to effective communication. Allow the speaker to finish their thought before contributing your own perspective. Interrupting can be seen as disrespectful, and could also create confusion.
5. Ask Relevant Questions: Asking questions helps to demonstrate that you’re interested in what the speaker has to say. It helps to clarify areas of the conversation that may be unclear. Additionally, it creates room for the speaker to open up more, adding levels of contact and understanding.
6. Summarize What was Said: Summarizing what the speaker said is another effective way of showing that you’re listening. It provides clarity and gives the speaker an opportunity to correct misunderstandings. This also helps to retain and process the information.
7. Respond Appropriately: Active listening without responding appropriately is short-lived. Responding appropriately could include providing feedback or adding to the conversation. It could involve affirmations, expressions of concern, or solutions where needed or applicable.

Tips for Developing Active Listening Skills

• Practice Patience: Active listening isn’t a skill you can develop overnight. It takes patience, dedication, and practice to learn. Being present in the moment greatly reduces distractions, and allows for the space and time to process and retain important information.
• Learn to Manage Emotions: Sometimes, even if we’re attentive listeners, emotions might get in the way. It’s essential to recognize this and learn to manage any emotional biases. A calm and level head goes a long way in improving communication and understanding.
• Practice Silence: Having moments of silence during conversations creates space and provides the speaker with the chance to add more insights or clarify further. It shows that you’re respectful, and not just waiting to talk.
• Be Open-Minded: Active listening demands openness, and sometimes, one has to put aside their personal biases. This ensures clarity, enhances empathy, and amplifies the chance for a successful interaction.
• Practice Active Listening Daily: Active listening doesn’t only happen in a formal setting. A lot of situations that require active listening are profoundly informal. Practicing it daily acquaints you with its nature, strengths, and nuances, turning it into a subconscious habit.

Conclusion

Active listening is a vital communication skill that’s easy to learn and practice. It involves paying attention, listening with intent and purpose, and showing empathy to the speaker. It’s a way of connecting with others, building relationships, and making the other person feel valued.

In summary, active listening provides the tools to improve communication, build empathy, and increase productivity. It’s an vital skill to develop and apply in both one’s personal and professional life. So, start practicing active listening today and feel the difference it makes.