Mindful Listening

Summarize or paraphrase key points to show understanding and strengthen the connection with the speaker.

Utilize affirmative body language—position toward the speaker, nod, and vocalize agreement.

Hopefully you can see that the issue was simply that they were unprepared.

listeners do not receive the same level of praise, attention, instruction, or credibility as speakers. They should!

Listening is frequently seen as an annoyance or a chore; it is undervalued or ignored

we can forget that there is just as much intentionality required on the other side of things—the listening.

you’re attending a class, you need to come ready to take notes and pay attention

Physical preparedness may simply come down to making sure that the chair is comfortable, nobody is thirsty, and you’re not attempting a conversation at 11 p.m. when everyone is fatigued and unable to manage a full-blown discussion about something important.

if you’re attending a class, you need to come ready to take notes and pay attention;

s common to see poor listening skills blamed on narcissism or a lack of consideration for the other person