Empathetic

Listening“People will forget what you said, people will

forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

I hear you but I’m not

listening!!

Hearing comes naturally ,it is not an

acquired skill. You don’t have to learn to

hear.

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Empathic listening is a way of listening  through

consciousness rather than physically just

listening. Additionally, responding to another

person improves mutual understanding and trust.

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What is Empathetic Listening?

Empathic listening is when one listens with

the intent to understand how the speaker feels in

addition to understanding his or her ideas

Showing empathy involves identifying with a person’s

emotions and situation; even if not in agreement

with them

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What are the Benefits of Empathetic Listening?• Empathic listening is

typically an effective technique to use in emotional situations, when there is a problem that needs resolving, or if there is a conflict present

• The goal is to enable the listener to share emotions free from judgment or criticism

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Steps for Empathic Listening

1. Listen carefully to the speaker’s messages, both verbal and nonverbal

2. Display an open, caring posture

3. Consider the speaker’s emotional state

4. Calmly reflect back what you perceive the speaker’s feelings to be

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Empathic Listening Tipsbe interested in the speaker

Have good eye contact and body language

Minimize distractions

Invite the speaker to expand on his or her thoughts

Respond in a tone that is appropriate for the situation

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Behaviors to Avoid

• Questioning or Probing

• Judging

• Criticizing

• Lecturing

• Advising

• Interrupting

• Giving autobiographical responses (e.g. “when I…”)

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Points to Remember

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Empathic listening is about the speaker, not the listener

It is not necessary to use empathic listening during an entire conversation; it is primarily a way to understand another person’s point of view

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• Anyone who interacts with other humans can benefit from learning how to listen empathetically; regardless of

gender, race, religion, or age.

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Learning to listen empathetically

not only teaches children to

focus, absorb, and retain more,

it more importantly

teaches children to get along and work out their differences by seeing things through the

other person’s perspective.

Americans seem to be behind the rest of the world when it comes to empathetic listening…

As a matter of fact we are viewed by other cultures as better talkers than listeners.

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• Australians not only teach empathetic listening to new parents as a skill to better understand their children,

but it is taught in the classroom from the moment they begin school as well.

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No matter who you are, where you live, or what your religion – when we truly need to be heard we speak to the greatest “empathetic listener,” known to mankind…

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