Updated on March 28, 2022 Show
Photo: Colleen Tighe / The Balance What is active listening, and why is it important for your career? Active listening is the process by which an individual secures information from another individual or group. It involves paying attention to the conversation, not interrupting, and taking the time to understand what the speaker is discussing. The “active” element involves taking steps to draw out details that might not otherwise be shared. NoteActive listeners avoid interrupting at all costs, summarize and repeat back what they have heard, and observe body language to give them an extra level of understanding. Active listening is a helpful skill for any worker to develop. It helps you truly understand what people are saying in conversations and meetings (and not just what you want to hear, or think you hear). Active listening is a particularly useful tool to use during job interviews, since it can help you build positive rapport with your interviewer. What Is Active Listening?Like critical thinking and problem-solving skills, active listening is a soft skill that’s held in high regard by employers. When interviewing for jobs, using active listening techniques can show the interviewer how your interpersonal skills can draw people out. Active listening redirects your focus from what is going on inside of your head to the needs of your prospective employer or interviewer. This technique can help reduce your nervousness during an interview. By placing your focus, through active listening, squarely upon the interviewer, you prove that you:
It’s important to not interrupt, or worse, try to answer the question before you know what the interviewer is asking. NoteListen carefully to the interviewer’s questions, ask for clarification if necessary, and wait until the interviewer has finished talking to respond. Examples of Active Listening TechniquesThere are plenty of active listening techniques that will improve the impression you can make at a job interview. Active listening techniques include:
By employing these active listening techniques, you will impress your interviewer as a thoughtful, analytical, and highly desirable candidate for the position. Think about possible situations that may occur during an interview and come up with strategies to allow you to listen actively. Examples of Active Listening ResponsesIt’s often easier to learn by reading examples. Here are some examples of statements and questions employed with active listening:
Active Listening Skills
Key Takeaways
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. How do nurses demonstrate active listening?Active listening requires listening for the content, intent, and feeling of the speaker. The active listener shows her or his interest verbally with questions and with non-verbal, visual cues signifying that the other person has something important to say (5).
What are four ways to demonstrate active listening?10 tips for active listening. Face the speaker and have eye contact. ... . “Listen” to non-verbal cues too. ... . Don't interrupt. ... . Listen without judging, or jumping to conclusions. ... . Don't start planning what to say next. ... . Don't impose your opinions or solutions. ... . Stay focused. ... . Ask questions.. What strategies help ensure active listening?Stay quiet and encourage the person to talk. Use non-verbal cues such as nodding, smiling, and maintaining eye contact. These cues will let the person know you are listening. Make a conscious effort to stay focused on the speaker.
Is active listening a nursing intervention?Active listening is a technique used by the nurse to reflect on what a patient has said to him or her and can help patients feel more deeply and be understood better by the nurse.
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