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Practice empathetic listening from "summary" of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen R. Covey
To truly practice empathetic listening, we must be willing to set aside our own agenda and truly seek to understand the other person. This means giving them our undivided attention, both verbally and nonverbally. We need to be fully present in the moment, putting aside distractions and focusing on what the other person is saying. Empathetic listening requires us to listen not only with our ears but also with our eyes and heart. We must pay attention to the speaker's body language, tone of voice, and emotions, in order to truly understand their perspective. By doing so, we can pick up on subtle cues that reveal the deeper meaning behind their words. It's important to resist the urge to jump in with our own opinions, advice, or solutions. Instead, we should strive to create a safe space for the other person to express themselves fully and openly. This means resisting the temptation to interrupt or finish their sentences, and instead allowing them to speak at their own pace. When practicing empathetic listening, we need to show empathy and understanding towards the other person's feelings and experiences. This means validating their emotions, even if we don't necessarily agree with their point of view. By acknowledging their feelings and demonstrating empathy, we can build trust and strengthen our relationship with them. In order to be an effective empathetic listener, we must also practice reflective listening. This involves paraphrasing and summarizing the speaker's words back to them, in order to ensure that we have truly understood their message. By reflecting back what we have heard, we can confirm our understanding and show the speaker that we are truly listening and engaged.- Empathetic listening is a powerful tool for building deeper connections and fostering understanding in our relationships. By practicing empathy, presence, and reflection, we can create a space for open and honest communication, leading to stronger and more fulfilling connections with those around us.
