Empathetic listening

Empathetic listening can help you hear the message being communicated without other noise getting in the way. It is important to be a good listener in order to communicate more effectively.  Empathetic listening has five distinct characteristics that you can implement to instantly improve your listening skills.

It is easy, when someone is talking, to think about how you are going to respond to what they are saying. However, if you are using good listening skills, you are able to hear more of the actual message being expressed. Repeat part of your co-workers response as you are responding.

 Ask clarifying questions if you are unsure and allow them the opportunity to complete what they are saying without jumping over them. Individuals at times don’t want to admit that they don’t know. But it is perfectly okay to not have all the answers.

Make eye contact. When you are looking at the person that is speaking, you tend to focus more on what they are saying and less on your to do list. Be aware of different cultures however, some cultures looking someone in the eye maybe considered rude.

Rephrase the message. By restating what you think you hear someone say it helps clarify any miscommunications before they occur. This will give the individual an opportunity to re-explain if you are confused about anything. 

Great teams take effort. Take time to work on your practice regularly to build quality communication and strengthen your results. For more information and to read other articles, please visit us at www.saltdpm.com.