How could we tackle the topic of communication without delving into the art of listening? As an effective communicator you are going to spend a lot of your time simply listening, probably most of your time in fact! The joy of communicating is being understood. Through your listening ability you can share this joy with the people in your life.

As a listener you need to make sure that you properly understand what is communicated. As an active listener you can do this by asking questions, mirroring back what they say and using non-verbal cues to show understanding. Does what they’re saying make sense? Nod your head! Do you need clarification? Repeat back to them part of what they’ve said with a questioning tone and they’ll happily expand upon that point.

Remember: You are 100% responsible for the communication. Your role as a listener is just as important as that of the talker! Take the steps to actively listen and notice the difference in the results from your communication.

People like to be heard. Actively listening too them is a powerful act.

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