4 answers
1
Question
4 answers
Updated
Phyllis’s Answer
Great question. Your asking how to be a better listener shows that you most likely have the tools to be a good listener already. People who listen well are empathetic. This means that they put themselves in the shoes of someone else, that they are curious about others' lives, and that they care about the feelings other people are expressing.
Listening is an art. I'm a professional actor, and when I perform in films and on TV, I find listening to other performers is even more important than speaking. I also find that taking Improvisation classes has helped my listening ability tremendously. By training myself to keep my attention on the other person and take it off myself, my anxiety lessens which allows me to be more spontaneous and relaxed.
You might want to look for Improv classes around you.
Meditation also helps in listening because when you meditate you gently take your attention off your thoughts and place it on your breath. When you meditate you increase your ability to listen.
Listening is an art. I'm a professional actor, and when I perform in films and on TV, I find listening to other performers is even more important than speaking. I also find that taking Improvisation classes has helped my listening ability tremendously. By training myself to keep my attention on the other person and take it off myself, my anxiety lessens which allows me to be more spontaneous and relaxed.
You might want to look for Improv classes around you.
Meditation also helps in listening because when you meditate you gently take your attention off your thoughts and place it on your breath. When you meditate you increase your ability to listen.
Updated
Anuoluwapo’s Answer
Active listening begins with a compassionate heart. The main objective of an active listener is to grasp the speaker's intended message. Active listeners consistently ask additional questions and contemplate how the speaker interacts with the information they provide. They also make sure their feedback is clear, beneficial, and appropriate for the speaker's current situation, and customized to the speaker's specific needs at that moment.
Steve Jacobson
Creative Leader/Content Creator/Producer/Editor/Storyteller
28
Answers
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Practicing active listening requires patience, concentration, and comprehension. It's a fact that many of us aren't naturally good at this. Often, we're caught up in planning our next statement while the other person is still speaking.
Meditation can be a powerful tool in this journey, as it trains you to focus on your own thoughts and block out external distractions.
There's a wealth of online resources available to help you enhance your active listening skills. Try out some of these exercises and after a few weeks, reflect on your progress. Assessing your growth by comparing your current state to where you started is an effective way to gauge your progress.
Another useful exercise is to engage in a challenging conversation with a loved one or a friend. Pay close attention to what they're saying, then repeat it back to them to ensure you've understood correctly. Then, share your thoughts and ask them to do the same. This method might not always lead to agreement, but it will certainly help you improve your listening skills. The key is to truly hear and understand their perspective, and ensure they do the same for you.
Remember, it's a continuous process. There might be moments when you slip back into old habits, but that's okay. We all do. The important thing is to keep trying and practicing.
Meditation can be a powerful tool in this journey, as it trains you to focus on your own thoughts and block out external distractions.
There's a wealth of online resources available to help you enhance your active listening skills. Try out some of these exercises and after a few weeks, reflect on your progress. Assessing your growth by comparing your current state to where you started is an effective way to gauge your progress.
Another useful exercise is to engage in a challenging conversation with a loved one or a friend. Pay close attention to what they're saying, then repeat it back to them to ensure you've understood correctly. Then, share your thoughts and ask them to do the same. This method might not always lead to agreement, but it will certainly help you improve your listening skills. The key is to truly hear and understand their perspective, and ensure they do the same for you.
Remember, it's a continuous process. There might be moments when you slip back into old habits, but that's okay. We all do. The important thing is to keep trying and practicing.
Updated
Ezra’s Answer
Hello,
The art of being a good listener stems from a genuine interest in the speaker or their topic of conversation. Naturally, we tend to pay more attention when the subject matter resonates with us. However, to truly listen and comprehend someone, it's essential to empathize with them, stepping into their shoes to understand their perspective better.
The art of being a good listener stems from a genuine interest in the speaker or their topic of conversation. Naturally, we tend to pay more attention when the subject matter resonates with us. However, to truly listen and comprehend someone, it's essential to empathize with them, stepping into their shoes to understand their perspective better.