Active Listening: Benefits and Examples
Active listening is a listening style that allows you to communicate better with your partner. It is the process of listening carefully to what others say, repeating and reflecting on them, and remembering their judgments and advice. Actively listening makes others feel heard and respected. This is a solid foundation for successful interviews, whether at work, at home, or in a social setting. Benefits of Active Listening Developing the habit of active listening can have many positive effects in important areas of your life. Relationships Active listening in all forms of communication helps you understand and empathize with the other person’s point of view. Active listening in a relationship means recognizing that the conversation is more about your partner than it is about you. This is especially important when your partner is upset. Being able to actively listen to a partner who is going through a difficult time is a valuable skill. This will help you avoid giving opinions and solutions when the other person needs you to listen. At work Active listening at work is especially important if you are in a leadership position or interact a lot with your colleagues. This helps us understand the problem and work together to develop a solution. It also demonstrates perseverance, a valuable asset in any workplace. Social situations Active listening skills such as reflecting, asking questions, seeking explanations, and paying attention to body language can help develop relationships when meeting new people. Active and empathetic listeners can initiate and maintain conversations. Active listening skills can help improve communication skills, but symptoms don’t just go away if you have a social anxiety disorder. Getting professional help for anxiety can help you improve your active listening skills. How to Encourage Active Listening We all find ourselves in situations where the “listener” is [...]
