Active Listening and Strategies of Effective Communication
Active Listening and Strategies of Effective Communication
Active listening is an attentive and interactive form of listening. One of the primary objectives of active listening is establishing and achieving empathy among all parties engaged in communication together. The words a person uses during communication are important, yet active listening includes listening to a person’s words as well as interpreting and intuiting what a person feels and thinks. Active listening is a highly engaging activity. Active listening requires the person doing the listening to have a very keen awareness of all aspects of the communication. Active listening then is a sensory activity that challenges the listener to see, hear, sense, perceive, understand, feel, empathize, and reciprocate.
Within the therapeutic setting, active listening is an exceptional tool for a health care professional. Active listening is so helpful that some may argue is it more than just a tool for success, it is a necessity for success. Active listening in a therapeutic setting helps a heath care professional more deeply and holistically assess the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional state. Active listening will help a physician; for example, sense how a patient’s medical history influences their current perspective regarding certain forms of treatment. In therapeutic settings that service a very diverse population, active listening helps prevent and assuage cultural misunderstandings or linguistic missteps. Active listening establishes a sincere connection between health care provider and patient. When the consumer truly feels that a health care provider is listening and cares, they develop trust and earn respect for their health care provider. Active listening is a contributing factor in strong relationships professional, personal, or otherwise. Using active listening in my workplace environment will help me take time out now so as to save time later. I often find myself or see
Active listening is an attentive and interactive form of listening. One of the primary objectives of active listening is establishing and achieving empathy among all parties engaged in communication together. The words a person uses during communication are important, yet active listening includes listening to a person’s words as well as interpreting and intuiting what a person feels and thinks. Active listening is a highly engaging activity. Active listening requires the person doing the listening to have a very keen awareness of all aspects of the communication. Active listening then is a sensory activity that challenges the listener to see, hear, sense, perceive, understand, feel, empathize, and reciprocate.
Within the therapeutic setting, active listening is an exceptional tool for a health care professional. Active listening is so helpful that some may argue is it more than just a tool for success, it is a necessity for success. Active listening in a therapeutic setting helps a heath care professional more deeply and holistically assess the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional state. Active listening will help a physician; for example, sense how a patient’s medical history influences their current perspective regarding certain forms of treatment. In therapeutic settings that service a very diverse population, active listening helps prevent and assuage cultural misunderstandings or linguistic missteps. Active listening establishes a sincere connection between health care provider and patient. When the consumer truly feels that a health care provider is listening and cares, they develop trust and earn respect for their health care provider. Active listening is a contributing factor in strong relationships professional, personal, or otherwise. Using active listening in my workplace environment will help me take time out now so as to save time later. I often find myself or see
References: Hartl, D. (1996) Six Elements for Active Listening. Global Learning Climates, Inc.: Orange, CA. Rogers, C., & Farson, R.E. (2007) Active Listening. Gordon Training International. Available from: www.gordontraining.com. 08 July 2012. Schirmer, J.M., Mauksch, Med, L. Lang, MD, F., Marvel, PhD, K., Zoppi, PhD, K., Epstein, MD, R.M., Brock, PhD, D., & Pryzbylski, PhD, M. (2005) Assessing Communication Competence: A Review of Current Tools. Family Medicine, 37(3), 184 – 192.