Frank conversations and sharing opinions are an important part of life. At the same time, a feeling of abandonment often arises. Misunderstandings hanging in the air harm not only the relationship between two people, but also their perception of the world. You can develop active (instead of passive) listening skills to improve communication with loved ones and colleagues. The main thing is that you do not have to spend a lot of time on “re-education”.
Most people believe that they do not need the active listening technique, although the methods of application are not limited. Communication with loved ones and the desire to help them with advice is the first case when you need to know about existing methods. It is equally important to use them when talking with colleagues and clients.
The right habits will help you find a compromise faster and convince the interlocutor. Existing active listening techniques are divided into several categories. Familiarize yourself with each one to apply them in practice and achieve the desired results.
The first thing people use during a conversation to approve and support is non-verbal cues of listening. Gestures, facial expressions, nodding or shaking your head are especially relevant if you do not want to interrupt a person. In addition, they allow you to “buy” time before sharing your opinion.
To confirm that you are really listening to the interlocutor’s story, sometimes you need to repeat what you heard. However, you should not retell everything you heard. Instead, rephrase the thoughts that were shared with you. This active listening technique is often the most effective.
By repeating what was said, you check how correctly you understood your friend’s words. At the same time, the interlocutor understands that he can trust you and that you hear him.
How to use the method in life? Try to understand the essence of the dialogue and point out possible solutions. For example, a colleague cannot cope with the task and complains about it. You can help him understand his mistakes by repeating that the task is not easy and that recommendations from the outside are necessary.
An active listener is advised to avoid evaluating and reasoning about why something went wrong. Instead, it is suggested to use the emotional component for support. To do this, you can use the following active listening techniques:
It is best to develop the listed skills in communication with loved ones. Considering that the connection between you was established from the beginning, you will be able to test your empathy.
Contact with the interlocutor is not established immediately, so it is worth asking clarifying questions. It is important not to interrupt the monologue, but to listen. The next thing to remember is that questions should involve detailed answers. Otherwise, you will only confuse yourself with unnecessary clarifications.
Remember that active listening is, first of all, about patience. Try not to interrupt, pause before your answers and do not try to end the conversation ahead of time. Acting as a listener, you will need to:
Trust shown by others can be a direct request for help. You should show a little patience to help with the solution.
To develop any skill, you need practice. Before practicing active listening, read the instructions and rules. There is nothing complicated or difficult. The secret lies in the little things that cost nothing:
To grasp the meaning of what is said, it is enough to simply listen. Often, this type of support is ignored. Women often simply share their experiences in order to go through the stage of self-reflection. You also need to express your feelings and emotions, so it is important to know how to learn to listen actively. Perceive the practices as another element of self-knowledge, which will definitely come in handy.
