“You are not listening to me!” — Active listening.. ‘6 Tips to become an Active Listener.’
Ria, “You are not listening to me!”
Mia got embarrassed.
“No I am listening to you, just checking the mail, I was expecting from two days.”
…
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There is a major shift in lifestyles last two decades.
1.The way we communicate with each other has changed drastically.
2.The way we interact with people started to decline as we focus more on interacting with the online friends from various social sites.
But,
- What made Ria to say that Mia is not listening to her?
Or in other words..
- What signs did Ria picked up and made this conclusion?
Who doesn’t like a person who wants to step-in to help?
To know this, first we should understand,
What is Active Listening and..
- Why it matters?
- Are there any kinds of Active Listening ?
- Are there any tips to become an Active Listener?
- Are there any benefits of becoming an Active Listener?
Let’s see all these, in detail.
What is Active Listening and why it matters?
- Active Listening simply means — listening carefully.
- Listening to the speaker attentively without any distractions.
- So, Active Listening will help in building relationship in day to day interactions with people, at work or in personal relationships.
Are there any types of Active Listening?
Yes, there are two types of Active Listening, which we see more in the tips below.
-One is Verbal Affirmations
-Other one is Non-Verbal.
Be patient and stop the temptation to interrupt. Just sit back and listen to.
Now let’s see the tips and benefits to become an Active Listener.
6 Tips to become an Active listener.
1. Eye contact
As they say, face is the index of mind, eye contact will get you more than 50% of the points in the game. This non verbal affirmation will allow the speaker to open up more.
Imagine a hurt friend, who is looking to talk to you. Give an eye-contact and make that hurt friend feel cozy and consoled.
2. Nod head
Nodding head is a sign of agreeing and listening to the conversation. It will make you an Active Listener. While nodding, nod slowly as an agreement and not abruptly.
3. Lean in
Occasionally, lean in. Just lean in, as if you want to jump into the scene. Who doesn’t like a person who want to step-in to help?
4. Other non verbal affirmations
Following are few non verbal affirmations from the speaker’s side. The facial expressions, the mood, the voice — sad, happy, hurt and anger. They will give more out of the conversation. The underlying feelings of the speaker beyond the words said!
5. Patience
Be patient. No hurry please. Don’t rush them to finish the conversation. Let them speak. Give them enough space.
6. Interrupting
Sometimes we get excited and want to take part in the conversation. This creates a block to the speaker and will change the mood of the conversation or the topic itself.
Hello Active Listener, you don’t want to do that. Be patient and stop the temptation to interrupt. Just sit back and listen to.
In conclusion, these are the tips to become a Successful Active Listener.
Follow these tips and become one. And the benefits..?
As mentioned, you will be the Go-to person for someone who needs to share their feelings.
And you’ll be a star in your circle and also to the person you’re a God sent Angel !
