Week 2 Discussion: Active Listening
Instructions:-
Week 2: Active Listening
Actions for ‘Week 2: Active Listening’
Active listening is a technique that is frequently used in conflict situations to increase the effectiveness of communication. View the following video and short article that teach active listening skills.
Active listening: Hear what people are actually saying. (2016). Mind Tools. Retrieved from https://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm
Now try to practice active listening with a friend, a spouse, coworker – or even a stranger on the bus! (You can use a cheat-sheet if you can’t remember all the steps.) Tell us about your experience. What were the circumstances of the conversation? Was it easy or hard? What gave you difficulty in putting the technique into practice? What was the other person’s reaction? Do you think the experiment was successful?
(Besides the source listed above, bring in and cite at least one other source of information for your initial post.)
Solution
Week 2 Discussion: Active Listening
I conducted an active listening experiment with my cousin who had lost a lump sum of money, and she wanted me to know how the ordeal happened. As such, I applied the necessary techniques as stipulated by Mindtools (2017). First, applying the technique of giving her attention was not that difficult. The experience was great as she knew I was keen and took into consideration what the was narrating. Furthermore, I could use node to some points that she stipulated during the conversation regarding the situation that led to her ordeal.
Also, I found it difficult to ask her question as her ordeal was so tragic in that she almost cried. I tried as much as possible not to interrupt the narration. At a point, I had to respond appropriately to her rhetorical questions, and I was actively keen not to defer judgment. My cousin also finished the conversation and told me, “thanks for being there for me, I couldn’t do this by myself. I needed someone to listen to me because the money was supposed to deposited at the bank after a club meeting.”
Last, throughout the conversation, my body language in response to devastating
statements from her showed that I cared a
lot about her narration. Active listening skills that I employed in the
conversation strengthened our relationship,
and from then we are having a healthy relationship with my cousin. She is, in fact, my best friend so far.
Additionally, through the provision of the required active listening skills, my
cousin was relieved about the ordeal, and
she was able to overcome the situation after I listened to her ordeal.
References
Mindtools. (2017). Active Listening – Communication Skills Training. Retrieved May 6, 2017, from https://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm