what are some ways you can actively listen to others during a team meeting or presentation?

Agile listening is a skill that can exist caused and developed with practice. All the same, agile listening can be difficult to primary and will, therefore, take time and patience to develop.

'Active listening' ways, as its proper name suggests, actively listening. That is fully concentrating on what is being said rather than just passively 'hearing' the bulletin of the speaker.

Active listening involves listening with all senses. Besides as giving total attention to the speaker, it is important that the 'active listener' is also 'seen' to be listening - otherwise the speaker may conclude that what they are talking about is uninteresting to the listener.

Interest can be conveyed to the speaker past using both exact and not-verbal messages such equally maintaining eye contact, nodding your head and grin, agreeing by maxim 'Yes' or but 'Mmm hmm' to encourage them to continue. By providing this 'feedback' the person speaking volition commonly feel more at ease and therefore communicate more than easily, openly and honestly.

Listening is the most fundamental component of interpersonal communication skills.

Listening is non something that just happens (that is hearing), listening is an active process in which a conscious decision is made to listen to and understand the letters of the speaker.

Listeners should remain neutral and non-judgmental, this ways trying not to take sides or form opinions, especially early in the conversation. Agile listening is likewise about patience - pauses and short periods of silence should be accustomed.

Listeners should not be tempted to jump in with questions or comments every fourth dimension there are a few seconds of silence. Agile listening involves giving the other person time to explore their thoughts and feelings, they should, therefore, exist given adequate time for that.

Active listening not only ways focusing fully on the speaker but as well actively showing verbal and not-verbal signs of listening.

Generally speakers want listeners to demonstrate 'active listening' past responding appropriately to what they are saying. Appropriate responses to listening tin can be both verbal and non-exact, examples of which are listed below:

Signs of Active Listening

Non-Verbal Signs of Attentive or Agile Listening

This is a generic list of not-verbal signs of listening, in other words people who are listening are more likely to brandish at least some of these signs. However these signs may not be appropriate in all situations and across all cultures.

Grinning

Modest smiles can be used to show that the listener is paying attending to what is being said or equally a way of like-minded or being happy about the messages being received. Combined with nods of the head, smiles can be powerful in affirming that messages are being listened to and understood.

Eye Contact

It is normal and usually encouraging for the listener to wait at the speaker. Heart contact tin however be intimidating, specially for more shy speakers – guess how much middle contact is advisable for any given situation. Combine eye contact with smiles and other non-verbal messages to encourage the speaker.

Posture

Posture can tell a lot about the sender and receiver in interpersonal interactions. The attentive listener tends to lean slightly forrad or sideways whilst sitting. Other signs of active listening may include a slight slant of the head or resting the head on one hand.

Mirroring

Automatic reflection/mirroring of whatsoever facial expressions used by the speaker tin exist a sign of attentive listening. These cogitating expressions tin can help to show sympathy and empathy in more than emotional situations. Attempting to consciously mimic facial expressions (i.e. not automatic reflection of expressions) can exist a sign of inattention.

Distraction

The active listener will not exist distracted and therefore volition refrain from fidgeting, looking at a clock or watch, doodling, playing with their hair or picking their fingernails.

See our pages: Not-Verbal Communication, Trunk Language and Personal Appearance for more information.

Be Aware That:

It is perfectly possible to learn and mimic non-verbal signs of active listening and not actually be listening at all.

Information technology is more than difficult to mimic verbal signs of listening and comprehension.

Verbal Signs of Circumspect or Active Listening

Positive Reinforcement

Although a stiff signal of attentiveness, caution should be used when using positive exact reinforcement.

Although some positive words of encouragement may be beneficial to the speaker the listener should employ them sparingly so equally not to distract from what is beingness said or place unnecessary emphasis on parts of the bulletin.

Coincidental and frequent use of words and phrases, such every bit: 'very good', 'yes' or 'indeed' can become irritating to the speaker. It is ordinarily better to elaborate and explain why you are like-minded with a certain point.

Remembering

The homo mind is notoriously bad at remembering details, especially for any length of time.

Withal, remembering a few key points, or even the name of the speaker, can help to reinforce that the messages sent take been received and understood – i.east. listening has been successful. Remembering details, ideas and concepts from previous conversations proves that attention was kept and is likely to encourage the speaker to keep. During longer exchanges it may be appropriate to make very cursory notes to human action as a memory jog when questioning or clarifying later on.

Meet our page: Annotation-Taking.

Questioning

The listener can demonstrate that they have been paying attending by asking relevant questions and/or making statements that build or help to clarify what the speaker has said. By request relevant questions the listener likewise helps to reinforce that they accept an interest in what the speaker has been saying.

See our pages: Questioning and Types of Question for more than information.

Reflection

Reflecting is closely repeating or paraphrasing what the speaker has said in lodge to show comprehension. Reflection is a powerful skill that tin reinforce the message of the speaker and demonstrate agreement.

See our page: Reflection.

Clarification

Clarifying involves request questions of the speaker to ensure that the correct message has been received. Clarification usually involves the apply of open questions which enables the speaker to expand on sure points as necessary.

See our folio on Clarification.

Summarisation

Repeating a summary of what has been said back to the speaker is a technique used by the listener to echo what has been said in their own words. Summarising involves taking the main points of the received message and reiterating them in a logical and clear way, giving the speaker chance to correct if necessary.

Introduction to Communication Skills - The Skills You Need Guide to Interpersonal Skills