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.

Ignore Distractions

Similar ideas to Ignore Distractions

The Distractions We Can Control

Interruptions & Distractions In Workspace

Eliminate Distractions