KISHODARRAN RAJADERAN

18458 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

( TEST REPLACEMENT )

ACTIVE LISTENING
What is active listening? Active listening is a communication skill that facilitates understanding,
comprehension, and compassion between people. Good listeners usually actively process information,
make pertinent comments and ask relevant questions. They are engaged in the conversation and
purposeful in listening, thereby creating opportunities that improve relationships, increase cooperation,
solve problems, and build intimacy. According to Philippa Cordingley, founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Canadas Centre for the Use of Research and Evidence in Education mentioned that there are
four subsets of skills involved in active listening which includes valuing silence, listening to what has
actually been said, using affirming body language, and reframing what has been said to check meaning.
Silence is very important because it shows the listener is attentive and allows the speaker to finish
what they are saying, and, to some extent, provides the speaker with the opportunity to hear him or herself
talk. Furthermore, using affirming body language is also important in letting the speaker know the
listener's attention such as nodding and smiling. Finally, it is important for the listener to repeat back what
they heard in their own words. This allows the speaker to reconsider what they have said and clarify
details.
Active listening is important in all situations where people are communicating with each other.
According to the National Communication Association, effective communication is critical to achieving
high quality personal and work relationships. In the workplace active listening allows employers to
understand their employees and create a workplace that is responsive to employee needs. In service
industries, active listening allows service providers to better understand what customer expectations are
and meet those expectations. Active listening is especially important in the lecture theaters, teachers who
practice active listening connect with their students and engage them in the participatory aspects of
learning. Active listening promotes understanding and sends the message to students that they are
important. Its not just the teachers who benefit from employing active listening,
students themselves benefit from learning these skills. Students who have active
listening skills are able to effectively process information and use their knowledge to
better understand concepts and develop new ideas.
Active listeners let people know they care about what is being said and help
the speaker articulate the true meaning of their thoughts and the true source of
their feelings. The active listener seeks to understand and remember what is being

KISHODARRAN RAJADERAN
18458 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

( TEST REPLACEMENT )

said, evaluates and interprets what they hear, and communicates understanding by
reflecting back to the speaker in an empathetic manner.