Active listening

Active listening is the practice of preparing to listen, observing what verbal and non-verbal messages are being sent, and then providing appropriate feedback for the sake of showing attentiveness to the message being presented.

Active listening is listening to understand. This form of listening conveys a mutual understanding between speaker and listener. Speakers receive confirmation their point is coming across and listeners absorb more content and understanding by being consciously engaged. The overall goal of active listening is to eliminate any misunderstandings and establish clear communication of thoughts and ideas between the speaker and listener. By actively listening to another person, a sense of belonging and mutual understanding between the two individuals is created.

The term "active listening" was introduced in 1957 by Carl Rogers and Richard Farson, who developed the concept as a foundational approach to empathetic and intentional communication. It may also be referred to as reflective listening. Active listening encloses the communication attribute characterized by paying attention to a speaker for better comprehension, both in word and emotion. It is the opposite of passive listening, where a listener may be distracted or note critical points to develop a response. It calls for an attentive mind and empathetic concern for the speaker's perspective. Active listening is a communication technique designed to foster understanding and strengthen interpersonal relationships by intentionally focusing on the speaker's verbal and non-verbal cues. Unlike passive listening, which involves simply hearing words, active listening requires deliberate engagement to fully comprehend the speaker's intended message. Research has demonstrated that active listening promotes trust, reduces misunderstandings, and enhances emotional connection, making it a valuable tool in both personal and professional contexts.

In addition to its interpersonal and professional use, active listening is increasingly recognized as an essential tool in digital communication, intercultural dialogue, and social justice contexts. Recent research highlights its role in reducing bias, fostering inclusion, and enhancing understanding across diverse perspectives.

A key component of successful negotiations is active listening. Since successful negotiations depend on a give-and-take of information, active listening is actually just as crucial as talking, if not more so. Action must be taken by both parties to an exchange, not only the one providing the information. In this sense, active listening is essential to making sure that all information is successfully shared and taken in. The best method for fostering goodwill and coming to fruitful agreements is active listening, which can reduce conflict and advance a situation that might otherwise be at a standstill. In the meantime, listening shows the other person that one is setting aside one's own agenda and giving them space to think about the matter from their point of view.

Active listening is being fully engaged while another person is talking. It is listening with the intent to understand the other person fully, rather than listening to respond. Active listening includes asking curious questions such as, "How did you feel?" or "What did you think?"