Steps to developing active listening skills

 

steps to developing active listening skills 


Given the importance of listening skills in the 21st century, how do we develop active listening skills in the new generations? Here are four steps to developing active listening skills.  

  1. Prepare to listen. Before starting to listen, think of the goal of listening and match your goal to the speaker’s goals. Also, set up the physical and emotional environment to facilitate that listening. That means putting aside any distracting thoughts and concerns to focus solely on the speaker. 
  1. Engage in active listening. Active listening means raising your energy level to the listening process, focusing attention and concentration on the speaker, trying to understand the other person’s verbal and non-verbal language, and storing their message in working memory. 
  1. Ask questions. You can encourage those who speak by asking open-ended questions and providing appropriate feedback, both verbal and nonverbal. This will also help you understand their message better.  
  1. Deconstruct the listening experience. After listening, take time to reflect on how you listened, what worked, and what didn’t. This reflection can help enhance your future listening experiences. 

Developing active listening skills is essential for personal and professional development. Moreover, listening is a skill that can be taught, as it can improve communication, foster empathy, and promote understanding.   

Do you want to know more about developing active listening skills to advance your personal and professional development? Is it a skill that should be taught in school? We welcome your comments and feedback! To learn more about transversal skills,

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