The Impact of Active Listening

Active Listening is more than hearing noise….

Active Listening is key social & work tool but one of the least used

Have you ever been trained how to listen?

Perhaps you part of the majority who have not been taught how to listen. In our learning life, we are taught how to read, write and speak but not listen. According to MHFA England – we spend “0.5 years learning to listen” and use it “42% of our time” VS “12 years learning to read” and we use it “9% of our time”.

Hearing is not the same as Listening.

• Hearing is passive. It is accidental, involuntary and effortless.

• Listening is Active. It is: Focused, Voluntary and Intentional.

Therefore if you want to engage in a group or have 1 to 1 discussions try to use Active Listening techniques.

Here are some to start and that you can use immediately:

• Pay attention. You can make ‘obvious’ gestures such as turning your phone off and putting other distractions away.

• Do not talk. It is interesting how our minds tell us to ‘fill any silence’. I encourage you to stay silent. More often than not, the individual will add words. Perhaps you want to understand a role or specific theme so you can respond. Silence will show you want to more know and engage with the other speaker.

• Ask questions. This is a simple way to demonstrate that you have been listening and interested in the conversation. Your questions can summarise what has been said and justify your response.

Feel free to get in touch with more tips or share any comments.