For some people, shyness and social anxiety make it difficult to reach out and invite people to share their feelings in that way. Ask the right questionsĪsking questions can sometimes feel tricky. Some of these signs will happen over the course of a normal conversation, so don’t be disheartened if someone you’re speaking with covers their mouth once! Just look out for a stack of these behaviours at once and respond accordingly. Reduced eye contact, looking away from you.Covering their mouth or face with their hand, hair or something else.Turning away from you, such as angling the top of their body to one side.Creating distance, for example by stepping away.If you spot any of the following in your partner, try to take a step back, change the subject or pause. Occasional nods or head tilts while listeningĪnd equally as important are the signs that your conversational partner is uncomfortable.Your body is facing the person you are speaking to. Open posture - arms and legs are not crossed.Try to keep a mental note of any of these behaviours that you do already, or that you don’t do, so you can make sure you’re not sending the wrong message. There’s a surprising range of physical clues you can give to indicate that the person you are speaking with has your undivided attention. Notice and practice engaged body language It’s okay if it takes a while to get there! Communication is something that we do instinctually, so trying to change it isn’t easy. Practise these techniques and, over time, they will start to feel less like completing a slightly awkward exercise and more like natural communication. Making people feel like you’re really listening with the intent to understand them might just transform your relationships! Not only does it make them feel good - like you really value them and find them important - it’s also a good way to make sure you pick up on all the subtle bits of information you can glean from someone.Īnd that means paying attention to more than just their words! Body language, tone of voice and even the words that are left unsaid can all speak volumes about people’s true feelings. Why are active listening skills so powerful? Once you learn how to use active listening in one setting - say, at work - you’ll quickly find that you use it when talking to people at home or socially, too. It’s really helpful for having ‘successful’ conversations, but it’s also a huge boost to your interpersonal relationships as it ensures the people you talk to feel heard, and valued. It’s ‘active’ because you are behaving as more than as a casual listener you are engaging with purpose. So, without further ado - let’s learn how to unlock those active listening skills! What are active listening skills?Īctive listening is a communication skill that involves listening to understand the meaning in people’s conversation, not just hearing the words they use. And you might even notice a correlation between those who listen, actively, and their reputation for being a kind and caring person. Once you recognise the hallmarks of active listening, you'll begin to notice them out in the wild. Active listening can transform your interpersonal relationships.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |