Instead, give them the time and space to figure out what they want to say. Interrupting someone with what you think they are going to say is a bad move. When the other person doesn’t know where to start, the last thing you should do is jump in to save them. It’s awkward when people stumble over their words. Allowing people to speak in their own time While that doesn’t mean you need to be perfectly still during conversations, you should aim to lessen the impact of these mannerisms. ![]() Whatever your habits may be, you should be aware of them. For example, you might gesticulate wildly or tap your feet when you’re deep in conversation. We all have things we do unconsciously while we’re speaking. When the speaker takes a quick break or you need a second to think, allow that to happen naturally. Use silence as a form of communicationĭo you rush to fill gaps in conversation? If you’re all too eager to speak, you might want to slow down. When you become a good active listener, you will be attuned to all of these hints and know how to read them. That means looking at the other person’s body language and paying attention to the gaps in speaking. What is the speaker saying without words? More than 50 percent of communication is nonverbal - so it pays to look for these subtle signs. One of the best active listening skills you will learn is positioning yourself toward the speaker. Have an open and attentive body orientationĪre you turning your back on the speaker? Are your arms folded? When you put up literal barriers between you and the other person, it can hinder your communication. This is one of the easiest active listening techniques and it’s so simple to learn. ![]() While they are speaking to you, maintain good eye contact at all times. If your eyes are wandering around the room, the other person will think you’re disengaged. Try to listen to and understand their point of view. That means understanding your own emotions and how you are coming across to the other person. When you’re speaking to another person, it’s important to have a high level of self-awareness. Let’s take a look at 11 approaches toward improving active listening skills: Be as empathetic and self-aware as possible While the book is intended for trainee social workers, the techniques are applicable to all careers in which you work with others. This simple approach won’t give your brain any space to start thinking about other things.Īuthor Pamela Trevithick notes the core active listening skills in her practical handbook.
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