What is Active Listening?
Active listening is more than just hearing words. It means being fully present, paying attention to both verbal and non-verbal messages, and responding in ways that show you’ve truly understood the speaker.
Why It Matters
When people feel heard, they feel valued. Active listening builds trust, reduces conflict, and encourages open communication, all essential for healthy relationships at work and in life.
Key Techniques of Active Listening
- Give full attention: Eliminate distractions and maintain eye contact.
- Show that you’re listening: Use nods, smiles, and short verbal cues like "I see" or "Go on".
- Reflect and clarify: Paraphrase or summarise to confirm understanding.
- Hold judgement: Stay open, even if you disagree.
- Ask open-ended questions: Encourage deeper sharing.
Reflect Using Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle
Think of a time when you struggled to really listen, or when someone didn’t listen to you. What was the outcome? Could active listening have helped?
- Description: What happened?
- Feelings: How did you feel?
- Evaluation: What went well or not so well?
- Analysis: Why did it happen this way?
- Conclusion: What could you have done differently?
- Action Plan: What will you do next time?
Key Concepts
- Presence: Being fully engaged in the moment.
- Empathy: Understanding without judgement.
- Clarity: Using questions and summaries to check understanding.
Further Learning
To explore more about active listening, visit: