Develop active listening by practicing these three skills:<ul><li>Keeping an open mind</li><li>Ignoring distractions and being fully present</li><li>Participating and showing interest</li></ul>

3 Keys to Developing Active Listening

<ul><li>Nod your understanding and make eye contact with the speaker.</li><li>Ask clarifying questions.</li><li>Maintain body language that shows you are interested.</li><li>Avoid slouching in your chair and looking bored.</li><li>Take notes, but continue to stay focused on the speaker, looking up often.</li></ul>

Participate

<ul><li>Focus on the speaker’s central ideas, ignoring the delivery, the speaker or the emotions and judgments you have on the idea.</li><li>Give the speaker your full attention.</li><li>Listen for the significance of the message.</li></ul>

Keep An Open Mind

<ul><li>Sit up front.</li><li>Tune out or shush any chatter around you.</li><li>Face away from windows and turn off your phone to avoid distractions.</li><li>Identify your prejudices and prevent them from generating an emotional response.</li></ul>

Ignore Distractions

<ol><li>Half listening: when you’re listening to some, but not all that being said for whatever reason.</li><li>Sound listening: when you are aware words are being said, but doesn’t properly take in the meaning.</li><li>Active listening: when you are fully focused in apprehending the meaning and intent of what’s being said and you communicate that to the speaker.</li></ol>

3 Kinds of Listening

Listening is a study skill most of us take for granted. Listening is automatic, isn't it? We might think we're listening, but active listening is something entirely different.

Participate

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