Active Listening Communication Skills

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key principles and techniques of active listening from the lecture notes.

Active Listening

Treating listening as an active process, rather than a passive one, which means participating in conversation rather than acting as an audience.

Verbal Communication Cues

Short verbal responses—such as "mm-hmm", "that's interesting", "that makes sense", and "I understand"—that match the speaker's affect to show interest and empathy.

Nonverbal Communication Cues

Body language responses, such as nodding in agreement, reacting to emotional content (e.g., smiling), and maintaining eye contact, that show interest and empathy.

Open-ended Questions

Questions that encourage elaboration rather than "yes" or "no" responses, telling the speaker that you are listening and want to learn more.

Reflections

Summarizing the speaker's most important points in your own words, including emotional content even if it was only communicated through tone or body language.

Being Present

Paying attention to body language, tone, and verbal content while focusing attention on listening instead of mental distractions, such as what you want to say next.

Listening with an Open Mind

Understanding the speaker's point of view without forming opinions or making judgments until you fully understand their perspective, even if you do not agree.