Practicing Active Listening in Communication
We know that a big part of interacting with others involves communication. Sometimes we forget that there are two aspects of communication. Speaking is the one that everyone seems to concentrate on when it comes to understanding better communication. But listening is also important in communication. If you are not actively listening to the conversation you may miss out on something important. Listening is a way to show respect to the other person in the conversation. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. – James 1:19, NIV What Does Active Listening Mean? The term active listening refers to being present in the conversation in which you are engaged. To be actively listening means you are fully invested in the conversation and you are willing to give it your full attention. It shows the other person you are interested in having a mutual conversation. Listening is not the same as hearing. When you hear you are not fully focused on the content or the person. When you listen you understand what the conversation is about. Types of Listening Active listening can apply to all types of listening. There are five major types of listening that we use in our everyday lives. No matter what type of listening you are engaged in you must always have the right attitude, pay attention, and adjust to what is being said. Empathetic listening is when you listen to understand the emotions and reasoning of the story that the speaker is sharing. Comprehensive listening is listening to learn. Critical listening occurs when you are listening to form an opinion of what is being said. Appreciative listening is when you listen because you want to enjoy what is being said. [...]
