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Active listening is one of the most important skills to have in life. It is necessary for productivity in work and for maintaining healthy relationships — whether personal or otherwise. There are a few ways you can improve your active listening skills to ensure that you catch all the important details as they’re being shared. We’ve listed three key tips to get you started.
Don’t Interrupt
For some this is easy to implement, for others not so much. It’s important to listen to someone all the way through before interjecting; however, some people get too excited and may not be mindful of this.
A great way to avoid interrupting is by taking a pause. As someone is speaking, pay close attention to what is being said without jumping to any conclusions. If you find your mind racing or thinking over the sound of the speaker’s voice, take a deep breath and refocus your sight on them.
This allows your brain to concentrate on what is being said and how it is being said. When the person is done speaking, it’s okay to remain silent and process what has been said. If the lull gets a tad awkward, it’s okay to give a nod or smile to ensure that you are still present.
Ask Questions
A person can rarely go wrong when asking questions. A good monitor of active listening skills is assessing how many questions you find yourself asking. Inquisition is a perfect way to further understand the information you’re being given.
Again, this helps us avoid assumptions. Oftentimes, when introduced to new information our minds can naturally try and fit it into an ongoing narrative we have for the world. When left uninspected, it can lead to confirmation bias or selective hearing.
Be sure to ask questions! It reassures the speaker that you genuinely care about what they have to say. This heightens engagement while also creating a strong foundation for mutual respect.
NO Imposition
Do not inappropriately impose your ideas or beliefs onto others. It can be hard, but it is crucial. Improper imposition can lead to miscommunication and misunderstanding. Throughout a conversation, there will be thoughts and ideas passed around that you may or may not agree with; however, it’s important to keep an open mind because you never know what you can learn.
We’re all familiar with the high level of divisiveness within our society right now; however, we are unfamiliar with how often we are enforcing this divisiveness through the act of interjection. Stating our beliefs isn’t actually necessary in many conversations. Sometimes, it’s important to just listen. It’s important to allow people the space to speak their truth. There’s so much to learn from it.
When you apply all three tips to a conversation, you’ll be amazed to see how much you learn and how deep bonds can become. When there’s an active exchange of ideas and understanding, it leads to harmony, inclusivity, and joy.
Want to try this all out for yourself? Here at Cyasoon, we’ve created the perfect opportunity for you to meet more like-minded individuals without compromising your safety. Keep in touch by following us on social media, so you’ll be one of the first to know when we launch!
We look forward to it.
Cyasoon!
