How to Be a More Mindful Listener
- Jon Vassallo
- Mar 27, 2023
- 2 min read
Listening is an important skill that can help you connect with others, understand their perspectives, and build stronger relationships.
Listening is an important skill that can help you connect with others, understand their perspectives, and build stronger relationships. However, many of us struggle to truly listen to others, often getting caught up in our own thoughts or distractions. Mindful listening is a technique that can help you become a better listener and improve your relationships.
What is Mindful Listening?
Mindful listening is the practice of paying full attention to the person speaking, without getting distracted or allowing your own thoughts to take over. It involves being fully present in the moment, focusing on the words and emotions of the person speaking, and actively trying to understand their perspective.
Why is Mindful Listening Important?
Mindful listening is important because it helps you build stronger relationships and understand others better. When you are fully present and engaged in a conversation, you are more likely to pick up on important cues, like tone of voice or body language, that can give you a deeper understanding of the person speaking. Additionally, when you are truly listening to someone, they are more likely to feel heard and valued, which can help build trust and strengthen your relationship.
How to Practice Mindful Listening
Eliminate distractions: Before you start a conversation, make sure you eliminate any distractions, such as turning off your phone or closing unnecessary tabs on your computer.
Focus on the speaker: Pay full attention to the person speaking, focusing on their words and emotions. Avoid interrupting or getting caught up in your own thoughts.
Ask questions: Show that you are actively listening by asking questions or repeating back key points.
Take time to reflect: After the conversation, take some time to reflect on what was said and how you felt about it.
Practice regularly: Mindful listening is a skill that takes practice to develop. Make an effort to listen mindfully in all of your interactions, not just the important ones.
By implementing these practices, you can become a more mindful listener, and improve your relationships.
Mindful listening takes practice, but with time, it can become a habit that allows you to connect more deeply with others and understand their perspectives.
Thank you for this post. It is clear and precise and chock full of great information to create deep communication. It reminds me of an exercise I learned over 20 years ago when I went back to school for holistic psychotherapy and I learned a communication exercise and it was called the "Rock Session". How it went was, the speaker got to hold a rock (stone or any object) which told the listener that their only job was to focus on the person sharing. While the speaker held the stone, the listener could not speak at that point. When the speaker was finished the stone got passed to the listener and at that point, the listener repeated what the speake…