Effective listening is a skill that requires conscious effort and practice to become better and more efficient at doing it. It is a process of hearing, understanding, interpreting, and then responding to information. Effective listening means we are using attentive listening as a minimum but should always be aiming for empathetic listening. Active listening is another way of describing effective listening, which means we ‘switch on’ our listening skills when needed, listen consciously, and concentrate on what is being said.

Active listening comprises several components by the listener, who must pay attention to what the speaker is attempting to communicate and elicit clarification where necessary for comprehension. Effective listening requires the listener to be aware of their attentiveness and body language and can relay the speakers message back with ease.

The benefits of effective listening are numerous. It can improve personal communications in organizations, build relationships, solve problems, ensure understanding, resolve conflicts, and improve accuracy. Effective listening can positively impact the speakers and the listeners mutual understanding and relationship. Many studies suggest that even the smallest improvements in a person’s listening ability can have a noticeable impact on the overall effectiveness of communication and productivity.

Here are some tips to develop effective listening skills:

• Face the speaker and maintain eye contact.
• Listen without jumping to conclusions.
• Allow your mind to create a mental model of the information being communicated.
• Concentrate on and remember key words and phrases.
• Don’t spend the time planning what to say next.
• Avoid distractions and stay focused.
• Be attentive but relaxed.
• Provide feedback to the speaker.
• Ask questions to clarify and gain a better understanding of what the speaker intended to say.
• Practice active listening regularly.