Active listening is more than just receiving communication. It is an active process of acknowledging the speaker, confirming what has been said, seeking clarification, and encouraging the speaker to say more.
During active listening, it is important to:
Let the other person know you are paying attention.
Use nonverbal cues, such as making eye contact, leaning toward the other person, and open body position (uncrossed arms).
Provide supportive, nonjudgmental verbal responses, such as “um”, “yes”, “go on”, “I see” and “Tell me more”.
Allow the other person to speak without interruption; pause before responding.
Clarify the message by “repeating”, “paraphrasing”. “It seems to me that what you are saying is,..” “What I hear you saying is…” Avoid judging the other person.