How to Develop Better Listening Skills

Active listening involves engaging with people who are talking to you.

There is always room for improvement when it comes to listening. There are so many interruptions in life, from physical distractions like cell phones ringing and babies crying to stress from work or relationships clouding the mind, that it is a miracle we process anything we hear. Active listening is a term for full participation in a conversation, and there are ways to help you improve your auditory processing so people you interact with feel understood and appreciated.

Instructions

1. Repeat what you hear. Listen to what someone is saying to you, then paraphrase what you heard. Say to the individual, "what I hear you saying is..." This ensures that you are listening carefully and gives the other person room to correct you if you have misunderstood what she or he is saying.

2. Relax. Sometimes fear and anxiety clouds your mind and prevents you from being able to take in new information. Try breathing deeply, counting back from 10 or closing your eyes and meditating for a moment before you have to listen to something important.

3. Engage with the person talking to you. Make eye contact, nod when you are processing what she or he is saying and do not interrupt.

References

• Mind Tools: Active Listening
• Women's Media: Improving Listening Skills