How to be a good listener - Psych2Go

Most of the time, speakers only want to let their emotions out in front of a listener, but they are not asking for solutions from the listener.

Being empathetic in conversations is another key to become a good listener.

However, there might be cases that the speaker is sharing the same experiences you had before. You might somehow overcome it, but the speaker hasn’t.

You may use your own experiences to show your relation to the event with the speaker, but similar to the previous point, try to avoid suggesting solutions that worked for you since they might not work well for them

When people are sharing their situations with you, it is crucial to show your concern in the right way.

Questions with “Why” may make the respondent feel forced to come up with an explanation when they perhaps may not have one.

The act of listening does not necessarily equal hearing.

It includes interpreting the speaker’s messages.

A useful way is to keep track of the conversation is by repeating and clarifying what the speaker has said.

Speakers tell you their events because they trust you.

If speakers see you as listeners, you can appreciate their trust and courage by showing them support through conversations.