How to be an active listener

Putting your ego aside and engaging as a listener.

1. Pay attention

First of all, for both parties to be communicating both have to be conscious. Paying attention is all about having a meaningful conversation which starts with fully immersing yourself into each other’s point of view and obviously you can’t do that if you’re the only one tuning into main points.

2. Do not jump in

Your initial reaction to show you’re listening might be to jump in and add your feelings, thoughts, and experiences. When we interject with our personal thoughts we redirect it to us. This is not your moment to speak.

3. Learn

Active listening is all about taking learning; taking notes, or write down things you want to research more. Be ready to take conservation further on your own time and revisit it again.

4. Do some research

Active listening should go beyond the initial conversation; Google things you want to learn more about and look up books, listen to podcasts, and actually engage with reading material or resources that are shared with you.

5. Be prepared to change your ideas

If you’ve entered into a conversation or lesson with someone and want to be an active listener, then be ready to change the previous ideas as you learn more. Take on board areas of improvement and be okay with being wrong.

6. Reflect before you act

Leaping in with ideas on how you think you can fix things, you’ve researched, reflected, or even finished listening, won’t help. Do the research, do the learning, and then reflect on how you can actively be part of a solution.

Being an active listener should not be a trend.

Keep listening

Keep learning

Keep amplifying others

Keep doing better than you did before.

What do you do to listen to your fellows actively?

Tell us in the comment section, or let’s talk! Follow @anecdotes_1

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