Active listening is a deliberate communication technique that goes beyond simply "hearing" words; it requires a conscious effort to understand the total message being sent.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the components of active listening. components of active listening
Comprehension is the cognitive work of interpreting the message. It involves decoding tone, emotion, and context. It involves decoding tone, emotion, and context
Even with knowledge of the components, listeners often fail due to: Make eye contact
Active listeners must shut down their "internal dialogue"—the habit of mentally preparing a rebuttal or thinking about what to say next while the other person is still speaking.
| Component | Action Item | | :--- | :--- | | | Put your phone away. Make eye contact. Do not interrupt. | | Comprehension | Identify one feeling and one fact in their message. | | Response | Use one paraphrase (“It sounds like…”) and one clarifying question. | | Retention | After they finish, summarize two key points they made. |