The active listening skill for today is: Reflect feelings. As you attentively listen to the speaker be aware, or tune into the feeling message that is attached… Read more “Active Listening Skill #5”
Month: September 2011
Active Listening Skill #4
The active listening skill for today is: Paraphrase. It is wise to never assume full comprehension of what a speaker is telling you. Everything shared goes through… Read more “Active Listening Skill #4”
Active Listening Skill #3
The third skill for active listening is: Request Clarification When another is speaking, perhaps responding to a question you asked, it is quite easy to misunderstand their point. Active… Read more “Active Listening Skill #3”
Active Listening Skill #2
The next skill in active listening is: Ask Open-ended Questions.
Paying attention is the critical first skill to be used in active listening. As I listen attentively, repeating back what I’m hearing the speaker say, I can take the conversation deeper by asking questions. Open ended questions are best in active listening, since the goal is a more complete understanding the speaker’s meaning.
“Could you say more about…?” “Would you be willing to explain this further?” “Could you help me to understand this better?” are all example of questions that extract more information.
These questions should be asked in the cooperative spirit that was begun by using attentiveness.
To sum up, at this stage of listening the goal is understanding the other, not problem-solving. Attempt to keep defensiveness down by using active listening skills.
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Active Listening Skill #1–Be Attentive
I promised to write a short series on active listening this week so here goes. The first skill is Be Attentive: Start out with positive thoughts about… Read more “Active Listening Skill #1–Be Attentive”
Sunday Update
Yesterday Beth and I had the opportunity to speak at a marriage retreat for young couples who attend our church. It was a joy to be able… Read more “Sunday Update”
The Power of Goals
I’ve been using Seth Godin’s update of Zig Ziglar’s goals program entitled “Pick Four” this week and in preparation for my solitude retreat in December. It’s been… Read more “The Power of Goals”
Quote of the Day
I read an interesting quote this morning from Matt Langdon: “The opposite of a hero is not a villain; it’s a bystander.” Inaction is more harmful than… Read more “Quote of the Day”
Keeping my Goals
I’m making sure that I’m on track with one of the goals I’ve set for this fall. I am working on being consistent with soul-training, that is… Read more “Keeping my Goals”
Checking in with the iPad
OK… Now I’m checking out the WordPress app to see about blogging from the iPad. How did it go?
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