Active listening is a way of communicating that can increase understanding between a speaker and a listener. Its goal is to have an open sharing of ideas and feelings. It shows respect and consideration for the person speaking.
Active listening is very useful for family members. Family members often develop bad listening habits. They react to each other based on what they expect the other person to say rather than on what is actually said.
Miscommunication or lack of understanding between co-workers can lead to hurt feelings, which in turn can make it difficult for people to work together. Active listening can solve such issues and create greater understanding and team spirit among co-workers.
For example, someone is unexpectedly rude to their co-worker, or seems inconsiderate of their needs. The co-worker might feel hurt, or they might become angry and begin to dislike that person. Active listening can help resolve such problems. Meanwhile the co-worker is given a chance to explain and maybe even apologize.
It could be that the rude co-worker was going through a difficult time at home or on the job and was unaware of how bad his or her behavior was. By listening respectfully, another person might learn more about that co-worker's situation. In this way, situations that could turn into major conflicts instead lead to greater understanding.
Sometimes people do not communicate with those they are close to because they fear the other person's reaction. Rather than saying, for example, "It really hurts my feelings when you behave like that way" ,the partner might say nothing at all in order to avoid a fight. If the partners actively listen to each other, though, they can fully explain how they feel, and this can help avoid any hurt feelings.
| A. Active listening can also be useful in the workplace. B. Active listening provides a way to break this pattern. C. However, the hurt feelings remain and can build up over time. D. So the family can be expected to be harmonious. E. You can be sure that co-worker's problems must all be solved. F. It allows a person to say how they feel about their co-worker's behavior. G. And he also gains that co-worker's appreciation for their willingness to listen. |
