In today’s fast-paced, hyperconnected world, truly listening has become a rare and invaluable skill. Active listening is more than just hearing words – it’s a comprehensive approach to communication that can transform your personal and professional interactions.
What is Active Listening?
Active listening is a deliberate commitment to understanding the complete message being communicated. It goes far beyond simply waiting for your turn to speak. Instead, it requires full engagement, empathy, and a genuine desire to comprehend the speaker’s perspective.
Key Components of Active Listening
Actively observe their non verbal communication. Make eye contact and
notice what is happening with the person visually.
Is she comfortable or nervous? Confident or anxious? Understanding these non-verbal cues provides deeper insight into the message.
1. Put Away Distractions
In an age of constant notifications and digital interruptions, active listening begins with intentional focus. This means:
- Putting away your devices
- Closing unnecessary tabs and applications
- Creating a space free from potential interruptions
2. Observe Non-Verbal Communication
Words are only part of the communication puzzle. Pay attention to:
- Body language
- Facial expressions
- Tone of voice
- Emotional state of the speaker
3. Ask Thoughtful Questions
Effective active listening involves meaningful engagement. Think of yourself like a therapist:
- Let the speaker fully express their thoughts
- Ask questions that demonstrate you’re truly listening
- Seek to understand, not to respond or judge
4. Provide Affirmations
Small acknowledgments can make a big difference:
- Use verbal cues like “I see” or “Yes”
- Nod to show you’re engaged
- Use facial expressions that show you’re connected
5. Give an Informed Response
After carefully listening, your response should:
- Reflect the speaker’s key points
- Show you’ve understood their perspective
- Be thoughtful and constructive
The Art of Active Listening
Emotional Intelligence
Active listening is fundamentally about emotional intelligence. Recognize that each person interprets messages through their unique lens.
External factors (like sleep, personal news) can impact communication. Maybe they’re grumpy and it has nothing to do with you.
Why Active Listening Matters
In professional settings, active listening can enhance your negotiation skills, build stronger relationships, demonstrate respect, and prevent misunderstandings.
It may be hard to have to listen. But in the scenario in the right, it’s best to actively listen, allow the other to let their energy out, and understand the scenario from their perspective.
Practical Tips to Improve Active Listening
Be patient and give the speaker space to express themselves fully. Practice mindfulness and presence, avoid interrupting, resist the urge to formulate your response while the other person is speaking, and summarize what you’ve heard to confirm understanding.
Conclusion
Active listening is a skill that requires practice, patience, and genuine intention. By committing to truly hear and understand others, you elevate not just your communication skills, but your entire approach to personal and professional interactions.
Remember, in a world full of noise, the ability to listen deeply is a superpower that can set you apart in any workplace or relationship.
Roy is the GM at Saudiaat and the presenter of the workshop on workforce readiness. This content and graphics of this article are heavily influenced from a wonderful TED-Ed talk by Katherine Hamptsten.
English 
العربية