effectively is more valuable than ever. However, listening is not just about hearing the words the other person has to say to us. Active listening goes further!
It involves a deep understanding of what the other person is trying to communicate, whether verbally or not. This fundamental skill directly impacts our personal and professional relationships, and even our mental health.
In this article, we will explore the concept of active listening, its benefits, techniques, and challenges . Discover how this skill can transform your relationships and boost your professional success. Enjoy your reading!
What is active listening?
Anyone in a leadership position knows how essential it is to listen to what the professionals on their team have to say in order to provide clearer guidance, resolve conflicts and provide constructive feedback.
Therefore, active listening is much more than simply hearing someone's words. It is an intentional process that involves paying full attention to what the other person is communicating, both verbally and nonverbally .
By practicing active listening, we demonstrate genuine interest, respect how famous is botim of worldwide and empathy for our interlocutor, without allowing our opinion to override theirs. This is the basis for a solid relationship of trust, which values the individuality of each team member.
Furthermore, active listening is an excellent way to maintain a productive dialogue without compromising team morale. Although challenging, this practice is feasible when we put ourselves in the other person’s shoes.
It is important to remember that interacting, asking questions and even expressing a contrary opinion are also part of the scope of active listening.
What are the benefits of active listening in the workplace?
Active listening brings lasting and significant benefits to the relationship between leaders and teams. Amid the rush and distractions of everyday life, it is common for communication to lose its effectiveness, which harms the organizational climate and the exchange of ideas.
In this context, active listening emerges as an essential tool to facilitate mutual understanding, both from the other person's point of view and what each person can offer the team and the company.
Check out the main benefits of active listening in the workplace below.
Improves relationships
When people feel heard and understood, they tend to connect more deeply with those who actively listen to them.
Increases confidence
When people realize that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say, trust between you increases significantly.
Resolves conflicts
Active listening allows people to feel safer expressing their feelings and opinions, facilitating conflict resolution.
Facilitates decision making
By listening to different perspectives, it is possible to make more informed and effective decisions. In addition, it contributes to creativity, based on innovative solutions.
Increases productivity
In work environments, active listening contributes to a more collaborative and productive climate. This is because people feel more motivated to share their ideas.
Facilitates nonverbal communication
Active listening helps us pay more attention to nonverbal cues, such as body language and tone of voice, which enriches communication.
3 main components of active listening
Now that you understand the concept and benefits of active listening, let’s explore its key components and how to perfect them.
Auditory guidance
Auditory orientation is the first step to mastering active listening. It involves focusing all of your attention on the person speaking , setting aside distractions and focusing exclusively on the message.
Auditory guidance requires full attention, focus and reduced distractions to be effective. Avoid using your cell phone or computer, looking away or talking to others.
Be present and attentive to your collaborator. This shows respect, facilitates communication and allows you to capture nuances of the message that might go unnoticed if you were distracted.
reflective technique
The reflective technique involves repeating in your own words what you understood from the other person's message . This practice aims to confirm understanding, demonstrate interest and show that what the other person is communicating is relevant.
It also helps clarify the message. If you don't understand a part, repeating it back to the other person can provide more details or explain it in another way.
For example: “If I understand correctly, you are saying that you feel frustrated because…”, “In other words, you think the best solution would be…”, “To summarize, the main point is…”.
Questioning skills
Finally, we have questioning skills, which are essential to deepen the understanding of the other person’s message .
By asking questions, you encourage the other person to express themselves and obtain additional information. Here are some examples of questions:
Open
They encourage more elaborate and detailed responses. Ex: “What do you think and/or feel about this?”
Closed
They usually require short, objective answers. Ex: “Have you tried this before?”
Clarifiers
They aim to clarify points that were not clear. Ex: “Can you explain better what you meant?”
To improve your communication process, prioritize clarity and maintain a neutral tone. By mastering these three areas, you will be able to establish deeper relationships, resolve conflicts effectively, and achieve better results in many areas of your life.
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