All of these taken together can convey a much deeper meaning than merely the content of what was said. Nonverbal cues include tone of voice, facial or body expressions, and speed of speech. In this way, the speaker feels understood and empathy is established. An active listener is not only tuned in to the information conveyed, but also how it is conveyed and any nonverbal cues present.Īfter listening, when a response is appropriate, the listener should respond to the feeling of what was said.

When someone is conveying a message, there are two meanings to gather: the content and the feeling or attitude underlying the message. There are three main components of successful active listening (Rogers & Farson, 1987): Active listening has even been referred to as the “measurable dimension of empathy” (Olson & Iwasiw, 1987, p. They will need to have an excellent attention span and honed empathic abilities. In order to achieve this, the listener must be willing to devote energy to the task. The listener is encouraged to interpret not only the content of what is being said, but also the emotions present and the body language. We may not be paying much attention to the nonverbal communication cues of the speaker.Īctive listening requires the listener to pay close attention to what is being communicated verbally and nonverbally. We might get distracted and miss some of what was said. Often, while we are listening, we are thinking of how we will respond. 3 Courses for Training on Effective Communication.Possible Barriers & Psychology Tips to Overcome Them.3 Worksheets to Practice Active Listening.7 Techniques to Train Your Active Listening Skills.

Is It Important in Communication? 4 Benefits.

Attentive listening