emphatic listening
It is so important to develop good listening skills in dealing with staff and students. It takes a great deal of patience to be a good listener, but it's a skill that really pays off. I think we should all strive to be good listenersl, not to make judgements and to encourage others to think through and make good decisions.
I am grateful that it was mentioned here to excuse oneself if total attention is not available. So often I have had to ask someone to pause in order to pay close attention.
In today's society cell phones, ipads, ipods keep some many of us from giving our undivided attention.
Sharing how actively listening makes the speaker feel important is a great show of respect!
Jan, excellent comment. I agree and one way we can do this is by going back to the student and repeating what they say - something like this:
"I am so sorry to hear about your sick child and I do hope that they are feeling better soon. I know how stressful that can be."
Janis
Active listening is one of the most important skills we can utilize in any situation. Like any other skill, it can be developed with practice. If we utilize this technique, it pays dividends for both speaker and listener.
