#Active listening skills in social work how to
#Active listening skills in social work full

Conversations can be hard work, but active listening pushes us that much closer to being strong conversationalists. When we commit to active listening, we avoid falling into the many pitfalls of bad conversations. Instead of lashing out, try to gently nudge them back on track. We must extend the same grace we would want to receive to our conversation partners if they interrupt us or seem disinterested. Having great conversations is no easy task - we all slip up from time to time. With a better understanding of their thoughts and feelings, we can respond with more empathy and thoughtfulness. By keeping our focus on the other person and combining the information we’re receiving from both verbal and nonverbal cues, we get a clear picture of not only the points being made but of the emotional context they’re speaking from. Using active listening in our coaching sessions will boost the coach-client relationship, but we can also put it to good use in day-to-day social interactions. What are the benefits of active listening? It allows you to consolidate and agree on the most important information to recall later. Pulling together key points from the conversation helps everyone involved get a big-picture understanding of what was said. When you don’t quite grasp what the speaker said or could use more details, prod them with an open-ended question to avoid misunderstandings. Reflecting on and naming the speaker’s emotions and feelings shows you’ve noticed more than just their words, but the thoughts behind them. Paraphrasing demonstrates attention and interest and shows the speaker that you understood them. This requires concisely re-stating what the speaker has already said in your own words. If words feel right, try these four communication tactics: When you encounter periods of silence, take the time to reflect on the conversation so far and read the other person’s body language to get an idea of how they’re feeling.Ī few active listening techniques involve talking, though many don’t. However, it’s rarely helpful to talk for the sake of talking - sometimes silence helps conversation partners be thoughtful in their next words. Silence can sometimes be very awkward, so it’s normal for you to want to fill it. For example, if your client is fidgeting while speaking, you might reassure them that they’re doing well and shouldn’t be nervous. Things like eye contact, facial expressions, tone of voice, and posture help you get a clearer picture of the speaker’s thoughts and emotional state and respond accordingly. Face-to-face conversations involve both verbal and nonverbal communication. Plus, this patience helps you avoid missing out on important information. The speaker will appreciate not being rushed. The person speaking may take a while to get to their point, but if you’re actively listening, you can help move the conversation forward by asking clarifying questions and noticing the details of their story. Keeping an open mind avoids unnecessary conflict and allows you to learn a new perspective. Instead of jumping to conclusions, give them the time to explain themselves.

We may have different life experiences, opinions, and points of view than our conversation partners. Try not to fixate on what you're going to say next and instead, go with the flow of the conversation. Don’t interrupt or cut the person off while they’re still speaking.

Effective communication happens when the listener focuses their full attention on listening. Now that we understand the purpose of active listening, how can we put it into practice? Try these tips for excellent conversations: Nobody likes repeating themselves, so using this technique in day-to-day life, whether we’re speaking with a friend at dinner or family members at home, the speaker will appreciate our effort and attention. Paying close attention throughout the listening process also helps us recall any important information more easily later. This builds mutual trust and stronger relationships between us, our clients, and our coworkers. It involves listening attentively to the speaker, taking the time to understand them, reflecting on what’s been said, and responding when necessary. What is the purpose of active listening?Īctive listening is an essential conversational and social skill.

Not sure how to be an active listener? Our guide will teach you how to practice this skill with tips and techniques to apply at your next client meeting. Trust us - your business, relationships, and clients will be better for it. But conversations wouldn’t be like this if we’d just improve our active listening skills.Īs coaches, we must master the art of active listening to be better communicators with our teams and clients. Have you been in a conversation where someone is going on and on, not letting you get a word in edgewise? Of course - we all have.

#Active listening skills in social work full

#Active listening skills in social work how to