Introduction

Building Community & Embracing Diversity

The Art of Compassionate Communication

Facilitation Skills: Decision Making & Conflict Resolution

Personal Empowerment & Leadership Skills

Celebrating Life:
Art & Creativity

Some Elements of Active Listening

Liberate our Mind

We can hardly advance a truly efficient communication if our starting point is not an active listening. And to listen, in addition to applying our senses, we have to liberate our mind –of our preoccupations, prejudices, assumptions, etc. Our mind is so full of “things” that we are unable to listen and take on what others try to tell us. Only a deep inner silence allows us to be fully open to other people’s voices.

Empathize

To listen is not only hearing words, but being open, accepting and empathizing. Besides trying to understand what people are saying, you should pay attention to your perceptions, emotions and the context of who is speaking. To listen effectively you need to be humble, stop your quick stepping into lecturing others, and instead look for connections at the level of your shared experiences.

Ask and Reformulate

Ask to clarify things, become more conscious, and allow wisdom to come out of who is speaking. Inquire into the emotional state of your partner. Ask to check if your understanding of what the speaker is saying is correct.
Repeat in a positive way without judging. Reformulate without adding your own interpretation and without looking for desired answers.

• Elements of Active Listening
• Elements of Deep Listening
• Suspending

Besides applying our senses, emptying our minds - from prejudices, assumptions, etc. - is a first condition for good listening.
Source: Worldwork