Respect for Others: Active Listening Skills to Strengthen Relationships
Respect • Ownership • Connection • Kindness
By Lee Havenga | January 30, 2025
Active listening skills are one of the most powerful ways to show Respect and build meaningful relationships. When you truly listen, you signal to others that they are valued. On the other hand, people instinctively know when they are not being listened to, and it’s immediately off-putting.
Research shows that practicing active listening skills fosters deeper understanding, improves communication, and strengthens connections. By honing these techniques, you can create more trust, respect, and positive interactions and ROCK thru your daily life.
APPLY IT IN 10 MINUTES
1. Maintain Full Attention: Give the speaker your undivided attention
• Put away distractions like your phone or laptop
• Provide occasional eye contact
• Use nonverbal cues like nodding or leaning slightly forward to show engagement
2. Reflective Listening: Show the speaker you’re absorbing their words
• Summarize or paraphrase what they said: “So what I hear you saying is…”
• Validate their experience without judgment: “That sounds like a challenging situation.”
• Ask clarifying questions to ensure understanding
3. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage deeper conversation by avoiding simple yes/no questions.
• Instead of “Did you like it?” ask, “What did you think about it?”
• Use prompts like “Can you tell me more about that?”
• Let them lead the conversation while you listen attentively
DEEPEN THE IMPACT of ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS
Nonverbal cues are just as important as words. Pay attention to facial expressions, tone, and body language to fully understand the message. A slight shift in posture or a change in tone can reveal more than words alone. You’ll enhance your ability to connect and respond with genuine empathy by tuning into these subtle signals.
MORE ACTIVIVE LISTENING SKILLS RESOURCES
Advance your active listening skills with more technique from this guide:
How to Practice Active Listening: 16 Examples & Techniques
Source:
Bodie, Graham D., et al. “The Role of Active Listening in Interpersonal Communication.” International Journal of Listening, vol. 28, no. 1, 2014, pp. 1-13. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10904018.2013.813234.
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