We’ve all been in a conversation where the person you were speaking with constantly interrupted you or was distracted by their phone or computer screen. How did it make you feel? Common answers to this question are: unappreciated, unimportant, invisible, and meaningless.
And when we are having a conversation where the other person is demonstrating active listening, we feel heard, understood, valued, and relevant. In other words, the person is demonstrating empathy and interest in what you are saying.
One of the hardest techniques to develop is getting comfortable with silence after you ask someone a question. Don’t rescue them. Instead, wait until you feel uncomfortable with the silence and give them permission to take more time with their answer. Do this by making the statement “take your time”.
Read about more techniques for increasing your active listening here.
