Simple Listening Skills
Whether in the workplace or at home, being a good listener helps build trust, strengthen relationships, and resolve conflicts more effectively.
This guide will introduce you to role-playing exercises designed to enhance your listening skills, helping you become a more empathetic and engaged listener.
What is Active Listening?
Active listening is more than just hearing words. It involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the speaker is saying. It is a skill that requires practice and mindfulness
Key Components of Active Listening:
Pay Attention
Give the speaker your undivided attention, and acknowledge the message. Recognise that non-verbal communication also “speaks” loudly.
Show That You’re Listening Provide Feedback
Use your own body language and gestures to convey your attention Nod occasionally, smile, and use small verbal comments like "uh-huh" or "I see."
Reflect on what has been said by paraphrasing. "What I'm hearing is," or "It sounds like you are saying," are great ways to reflect back.
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Role-Playing Exercises
Exercise 1: The Speaker-Listener Technique
Purpose: To practice taking turns speaking and listening without interrupting or offering immediate advice.
Instructions:
Pair up with a colleague or friend. One person is the "Speaker" and the other is the "Listener." The Speaker talks about a chosen topic (work challenge, recent experience, etc.) for 23 minutes.
The Listener focuses on understanding, showing engagement through nods and short verbal acknowledgments but doesn’t interrupt or give advice
After the time is up, switch roles and repeat.
Reflection Questions:
How did it feel to be the Speaker?
How did it feel to be the Listener? Was there a temptation to interrupt? How did you manage it?
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Exercise 2: Paraphrasing for Clarity
Purpose: To practice paraphrasing what the speaker has said to ensure understanding.
Instructions:
Pair up again with your partner
The Speaker shares a story or opinion for 2-3 minutes.
The Listener then paraphrases what the Speaker said, starting with phrases like "What I hear you saying is..." or "It sounds like..."
The Speaker provides feedback on the accuracy of the paraphrasing.
Reflection Questions:
Did the Listener accurately capture the Speaker’s message? How did paraphrasing affect the understanding of the conversation?
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Exercise 3: The Emotion Mirror
Purpose: To practice recognising and reflecting back the emotions of the speaker to build empathy.
Instructions:
In pairs, the Speaker shares an experience that had an emotional impact (e g , frustration at work, joy from an achievement).
The Listener reflects back the emotions they perceive, using statements like, "It sounds like you felt..." or "I sense you were..."
The Speaker confirms or clarifies the emotions, and they discuss the impact of this reflection on their conversation.
Reflection Questions:
How did reflecting emotions change the dynamics of the conversation? Did the Speaker feel understood and validated?
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Conclusion and Next Steps
Improving your listening skills takes time and practice. Use these exercises regularly to build stronger, more empathetic relationships both at work and in your personal life.
Remember, being a great listener is about more than hearing words—it's about connecting with the person speaking.
Encourage your clients or colleagues to practice these skills and share feedback on how these exercises impact their communication and relationships.
Reach out to us at Drake WellbeingHub if you need any further assistance. Our Counselling services are available to you via telephone, online or in-person.
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