Active Listening
*Square Up - turn your body to face your speaker
*Eye Contact - stop what you are doing and look up
*Listen with your Ears - mouth closed. Let them finish their thoughts
*Show Understanding - mirror emotion
*Comments or Questions to show you heard what they were saying
If you notice your attention is divided (sounds, other thoughts or lists of things to do) allow yourself to put those thoughts on hold and focus on the speaker and really hear what they are saying. Listening takes a good deal of energy. When we actively listen people feel validated and heard.