Active Listening

Knowledge Center

Description of Active Listening. Explanation.

Definition Active Listening. Description.

When people talk to each other, they do not necessarily listen. The purpose of active listening is to improve mutual understanding through carefully absorbing what the other has said.

Active listening is a structured way of listening and responding to others, focusing attention on the speaker. Suspending one's own frame of reference, suspending judgment and avoiding other internal mental activities are important to fully attend to the speaker.

Active listening requires 3 things:

• Comprehending (a shared meaning between the parties in the communication)
• Retaining (remembering what was communicated)
• Responding (verbal or nonverbal responses from the listener to show the message is being listened to)

Effective Communication

Besides poor listening, 4 more factors are known to prevent good communication and understanding what the other person means:

1. Subject Complexity

   • Is the subject matter new or does the listener has experience with it?

   • Is the subject matter difficult to understand, or simple?

   • Is the subject matter interesting and important to the listener?

2. The Speaker

   • Is the speaker experienced?

   • What are the non-verbal cues of the speaker?

   • What frame of mind is he or she?

   • How personable, threatening, intelligent, etc.?

3. The Presentation

   • Is the information illustrated with visuals?

   • Is technology used effectively?

   • Is the information introduced logically?

   • Are concepts introduced incrementally, with examples?

4. The Environment

   • Is the environment conducive to listening?

   • Can the listener interact and exchange information with the speaker?

   • Are there distractions that can be avoided?

Special Interest Group - Active Listening Special Interest Group (766 members)

Forum - Active Listening   Here you will find interesting and educational discussions.   Tips to Improve your Assertiveness (10 reactions) Do you recognize the feeling: "When I say NO, I feel guilty....           Tips on the HOW of Active Listening (9 reactions) 1. The listener should repeat via rephrasing what the...           Beware of the Power of the Influence of Speakers Friends, romans, countrymen, lend me your ears, I have come ...           4 Levels of Listening (2 reactions) In our work as consultants we have identified 4 levels of li...           Good Listening is Welcoming the Richness of the Sharing Listening is about being able to put our ego at distance fro...           What Politics can Teach us About Listening Politicians are incredible! They say and repeat that they ar...           WHEN To Be a Good Listener? Should one ALWAYS be a good, active listener? I beli...           Listening Does not Equal Hearing! (4 reactions) During a workshop on leading, we were able to distinguish th...           Often the one who listens looses... (2 reactions) Effective communication is key to success. The first princip...           Obstacles to Active Listening (4 reactions) The main obstacle to active listening, in my view, is often ...           Dialogue Communication Network There is a communication dilemma that says "I know you think...           Be Careful With Interpreting What is Said Although we refer to listening as the most effective way of ...           Active Listening is 2-way Active listening, as I understanding it, means to give back ...           Real Life Example of Active Listening (1 reactions) Have you ever reflected on a person who is awaiting the f...           Good Listening Allows for a Good Response (4 reactions) Only a good listener can become a good speaker. Becau...           Comprehend, Retain and Respond is Crucial to Learn (1 reactions) I teach adults and this is so relevant to the class room atm...           Active Listening is a Key International Competence A key tactic to effective active listening is to check an...           Is Active Listening the Opposite of Selective Listening? (1 reactions) I think we can understand the phrase 'Active Listening' bett...           Can Active Listening Make you Lonely? (1 reactions) Listening is of vital importance in every tenet of human int...           Quotes on Active Listening Active listening is the courage and patience one should have...

Best Practices - Active Listening Here you will find the most valuable ideas.   Listening Brings Success in People Management (18 reactions) Managing anything requires effective communication. Listenin...           Nonviolent Communication (15 reactions) Somewhat in the same 'league' as Active Listening is the ...           Listening Skills for Managers Good listening makes for good management. Studies have shown...           8 Types of Poor Listeners (1 reactions) Following are the 8 categories of poor listeners: 1....           Demonstrating How Difficult Good Listening Is | Distortion Exercise (5 reactions) I have run a development program on communications many time...           Listening Includes Non-Verbal Communication As Well ! (2 reactions) Listening goes beyond words and should be extended to non-ve...

Expert Tips - Active Listening Here you will find high-quality advice from experts.   LEADER: Best Practices for Effective Leadership Behavior Leadership Behavior, Leadership Effectiveness, Leadership Style...

Resources - Active Listening Here you will find powerpoint presentations, micro-learning videos and further information sources. Hearing versus Listening Communicating Effectively, Active Listening, Coaching, Mentoring...   Nonverbal Persuasion and Communication: Effects and Types Nonverbal Persuasion, Nonverbal Communication, Sales, Selling, PR, Applying for a Job...   Communication Essentials: Non-verbal, Verbal and Listening Skills Communication Skills, Personal Skills, Confidence, Power, Influence, Sincerity, Trust...   The Role of Supervisor | Skills of Supervisors Skills of a Supervisor, Supervisor Role, Supervisor Behavior...   Practical Communication Tips for Managers Management Skills, Leadership Skills, Management Development, Leadership Development, Situational Leadership...   How to Manage Challenging Situations and Challenging People? People Management, Conflict Management, Persuasion, Challenging Situations...   7 Differences between Good and Great Speakers Best Practice for Speakers...     News about Active Listening         Videos about Active Listening         Presentations about Active Listening         Books about Active Listening         More about Active Listening

Compare also: Johari Window  |  Hawthorne Effect  |  Action Learning  |  Covert Leadership  |  Abilene Paradox  |  Myers-Briggs Type Indicator  |  Storytelling  |  Employee Attitude Survey  |  Coaching  |  Mentoring

Return to Management Hub: Communication & Skills  |  Human Resources

More on Management  |  Return to Management Dictionary  | 

This ends our Active Listening summary and forum.