Page 5 - Follow up: Listening to understand & sharing concerns
P. 5
Type What this type of listening is The impact this listening has
Empathetic Stepping into the other person’s mind to I feel they not only understood but could feel
understand the speaker’s emotions / feelings. how things are for me. They helped me
Asking questions in a way that helps the understand myself better in a way I couldn’t on
person to explore themselves and their my own. I know what I need to do now for things
situations without influence. to be better for me.
Active The listener provides verbal and non-verbal I feel really listened to. I feel they got how things
feedback in the way of questions, gestures are for me. They have helped me to work out
and paraphrasing. what I need to do to now for things to improve.
Attentive The listener asks probing questions and seeks I feel they were focused on me and what I was
further information to better understand the saying. They really wanted to understand my
person’s thoughts, feelings and ideas. point of view – it was not just their agenda. They
gave me some good ideas on how to improve
things.
Selective The listener pays more attention to some of I feel s/he was trying to listen to me but there
what is said – particularly to words and was a direction
phrases of interest.
Responsive The listener responds in some ways – nodding I didn’t really feel they were listening. They were
head or “uh-huh” but they are not actually distracted by other things going on. It felt they
paying attention or understanding. were too busy to really listen.
Passive The listener catches a few words here and I do not think they really wanted this
there and doesn’t respond. The listener may conversation at all. I don’t think they are
be involved in another task. interested in even hearing my point of view.
