What is Active Listening?
Active Listening is one of the most important communication skills that involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding to, and remembering what is being said. It involves a deeper level of engagement and empathy. Active listening helps to build trust, foster better relationships and improve overall team communication and collaboration.
Here are three practical ways to improve active listening, which is especially important in one-on-one conversations with team members, but also important in other contexts like meetings or group discussions:
Reflective Listening
Description:
Reflective listening involves paraphrasing or summarizing what the speaker has said to ensure understanding.
Method:
Leader: After the team member speaks, the leader responds with a summary or paraphrase of the key points.
- Example: “It sounds like you’re feeling frustrated with the current project deadlines and believe we might need to reconsider the timeline. Is that correct?”
Clarifying and Confirming
Description:
Method:
Leader: Throughout the conversation, the leader periodically asks for clarification on specific points or summarizes to ensure accuracy.
- Example: “I want to make sure I understand your concerns correctly. Are you saying that the main issue is the lack of communication within the team regarding project updates?”
Empathetic Listening
Description:
Method:
Demonstrates empathy by acknowledging the team member’s emotions and expressing understanding.
- Example: “I can sense that this situation is causing you stress, and I appreciate your dedication to finding a solution. How can I support you in managing this challenge?”
In Conclusion
These methods are grounded in evidence-based communication strategies and contribute to creating a positive and open communication environment within a team. Incorporating these active listening techniques can lead to improved relationships, increased employee satisfaction, and enhanced problem-solving within the team.
