- Active listening
Active listening is an intent to "listen for meaning".
Purpose
When interacting, people often are not listening attentively to one another. They may be distracted, thinking about other things, or thinking about what they are going to say next, (the latter case is particularly true in
conflict situations or disagreements).Active listening is a structured way of listening and responding to others. It focuses attention on the speaker. Suspending one’s own frame of reference and suspending judgment are important in order to fully attend to the speaker.
Tactics
It is important to observe the other person's
behavior andbody language . Having heard, the listener may thenparaphrase the speaker’s words. It is important to note that the listener is not necessarily agreeing with the speaker—simply stating what was said. Inemotion ally chargedcommunication s, the listener may listen forfeelings . Thus, rather than merely repeating what the speaker has said, the active listener might describe the underlying emotion (“you seem to feel angry” or “you seem to feel frustrated, is that because…?”).Individuals in conflict often contradict one another. This has the effect of denying the validity of the other person’s position. Either party may react defensively, and they may lash out or withdraw. On the other hand, if one finds that the other partly understands, an atmosphere of
cooperation can be created. This increases the possibility of collaborating and resolving the conflict.Use
Active listening is used in a wide variety of situations, including
tutoring , [cite journal | url = http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1115096 | title = Roles and responsibilities of the problem based learning tutor in the undergraduate medical curriculum | author = Gillian Maudsley | date = 1999 March 6 | volume = 318 | issue = 7184 | pages = 657–661 | journal = British Medical Journal | pmid = 10066213 ] medical workers talking to patients,cite journal |author=Lang F, Floyd MR, Beine KL |title=Clues to patients' explanations and concerns about their illnesses. A call for active listening |journal=Arch Fam Med |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=222–7 |year=2000 |pmid=10728107 |doi=10.1001/archfami.9.3.222]HIV counseling, [cite journal | url = http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/MeetingAbstracts/102211101.html | title = HIV counselling skills used by health care workers in Zambia (abstract no. PD0743) | author = Baxter P, Campbell T. | journal = Int Conf AIDS | date = 1994 Aug 7-12 | volume = 10 | issue = 390] helpingsuicidal persons, [cite journal |author=Laflamme G |title= [Helping suicidal persons by active listening] |language=French |journal=Infirm Que |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=35 |year=1996 |pmid=9147668 |doi=] management, [cite journal |author=Mineyama S, Tsutsumi A, Takao S, Nishiuchi K, Kawakami N |title=Supervisors' attitudes and skills for active listening with regard to working conditions and psychological stress reactions among subordinate workers |journal=J Occup Health |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=81–7 |year=2007 |pmid=17429164 |doi=]counseling and journalistic settings. In groups it may aid in reaching consensus. It may also be used in casual conversation to build understanding, though this can be interpreted as condescending.The benefits of active listening include getting people to open up, avoiding misunderstandings, resolving conflict and building trust.In a medical context, benefits may include increased patient satisfaction, improving cross-cultural communication, [cite journal |author=Davidhizar R |title=Listening--a nursing strategy to transcend culture |journal=J Pract Nurs |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=22–4; quiz 26–7 |year=2004 |pmid=15460343 |doi=] improved outcomes, or decreased
litigation [cite journal |author=Robertson K |title=Active listening: more than just paying attention |journal=Aust Fam Physician |volume=34 |issue=12 |pages=1053–5 |year=2005 |pmid=16333490 |doi=] .Active listening can be measured by the Active Listening Observation Scale. [cite journal |author=Fassaert T, van Dulmen S, Schellevis F, Bensing J |title=Active listening in medical consultations: development of the Active Listening Observation Scale (ALOS-global) |journal=Patient Educ Couns |volume=68 |issue=3 |pages=258–64 |year=2007 |pmid=17689042 |doi=10.1016/j.pec.2007.06.011]
ee also
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Informational listening References
External links
* [http://www.personadev.com/2008/02/09/10-tips-to-be-a-better-listener/ How to Be a Better Listener] - An article from PersonaDev.com with the 10 best ways to increase your active listening abilities.
* [http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/treatment/activel.htm Active Listening] International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict: Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA
* [http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7article/article40.htm Empathic listening skills] How to listen so others will feel heard, or listening first aid (University of California). Download a one hour seminar on empathic listening and attending skills.
* [http://crs.uvm.edu/gopher/nerl/personal/comm/e.html Exercise 4 — Active Listening] , Center for Rural Studies, University of Vermont, Montpelier
* [http://communication-skills-4confidence.com/active-listening.html What is active listening?]
* [http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HE361 Active listening: A communication tool]
* [http://www.listen.org Homepage of the International Listening Association] The professional organization whose members are dedicated to learning more about the impact that listening has on all human activity
* [http://www.salesconcepts.com/nl0698c.htm Guidelines for Active Listening and Reflection]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/listening-skills Listening Skills] Great information and tips on becoming a better listener
* [http://www.geocities.com/workplacecommunication Workplace Listening & Nonverbal Communication]
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