Active Listening Skills and Critical Thinking

Today I am joined by Dr. David Nehring to talk about Active Listening Skills. This is a simple formula that will build Critical Thinking Skills, as it requires attention to detail, empathy and understanding feelings, as well as empathy and compassion.

As you sit with someone to really listen to them by using Active Listening Skills:

Be aware of yourself
Clarify the goal of the conversation in your own head:
- Are you wanting to just hear the person?
- Gain mutual understanding?
- Negotiate shared action?
- Understand how much pain the other person is in?

Given what I am feeling and wanting, can I set that aside long enough to hear the other person?

Gauge what the other person is wanting
Clarify to the other person that what you are doing right now is “just listening”
Say back some of what the person is saying
1. The words they are saying
2. The emotions behind what they are saying
3. If all is going well, ask about the meaning of what they are saying
4. Offer your understanding of what is being said as a question.
Continue listening stance until either they say they’ve feel heard or you are saturated and need to pause the conversations in order to absorb what they are saying. Ask for a break as needed but commit to re-engage later.
Continue the above until the person feels listened to and understood.
After thinking about what is said, ask to reverse roles when the other person is ready.