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Active Listening. Anna Allford, Patients for Patient Safety Project Manager. Talking and listening exercise. Turn to the person next to you and agree who is A and who is B A starts first by talking for 2 minutes about what it means for them to be a Patient safety Champion
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Active Listening Anna Allford, Patients for Patient Safety Project Manager
Talking and listening exercise • Turn to the person next to you and agree who is A and who is B • A starts first by talking for 2 minutes about what it means for them to be a Patient safety Champion • B can only make supportive signals to ensure the other person keeps talking – B must not talk other than saying “thank you for telling me”
Switch over • Without discussing this switch over so that B now talks for 2 minutes on the same subject and A listens but does not talk other than to thank B.
How was that? • How did it feel when you did all the talking? • How did it feel when you did only the listening? • Was communication taking place? • Why/why not?
We all ‘listen’ • Often when people talk to each other, they don’t listen attentively. • They are often distracted, half listening, half thinking about something else.
What is Active Listening? • Active listening is a structured form of listening and responding that focuses the attention on the speaker. • The listener must take care to attend to the speaker fully, and then repeats, in the listeners own words, what he or she thinks the speaker has said. • The listener does not have to agree with the speaker - he or she must simply state what they think the speaker said. • This enables the speaker to find out whether the listener really understood. If the listener did not, the speaker can explain some more.
Benefits of Active Listening • It helps people to listen attentively to others. • It avoids misunderstandings, as people have to confirm that they do really understand what another person has said. • It tends to open people up, to get them to say more.
Active Listening exercise You have 2 minutes for this exercise • This time A starts first and talks for 1 minute about a hobby or interest • B then re-states what A has said • A further explains or adds more information in order to clarify/refine
Switch over Again 2 minutes for the exercise • B starts now and talks for 1 minute about a hobby or interest • A then re-states what B has said • B further explains or adds more information in order to clarify/refine
How was that? • How did it feel when you were the person talking? • How did it feel when you were the person listening? • Was communication taking place? • Why/why not? • Which felt better the first exercise or this one?
Summary • It takes a lot of concentration and determination to be an active listener. • Be deliberate with your listening and remind yourself constantly that your goal is to truly hear what the other person is saying. • Ask questions, reflect, and paraphrase to ensure you understand the message. Happy listening!