Master Compassionate Listening

Communication is the foundation of all human interaction. Not only does it allow us to share information and knowledge with others, it serves as the basis for our relationship with them.  Effective communication can bring us together and provide a bond of unity. It plays a vital role in our successful association with significant people in both our personal and professional lives.

While there are those rare individuals who have mastered the art of communication, most of us need a bit of help to improve our skills. Compassionate listening is one of those communication skills that tend to be off our radar but serves as an extraordinary gift to others.

All human contact is built on communication. It not only enables us to impart knowledge and information to others, but it also forms the basis of our interactions with them. We may unite and become one through effective communication. It is essential to our ability to maintain meaningful relationships with important people in both our personal and professional life.

While there are a select few people who have perfected the art of communication, the majority of us could use some assistance. One of those communication abilities that frequently slips under our notice yet provides others with an exceptional gift is compassionate listening.

What is compassionate listening?

Experts define compassion as the emotion that occurs when we are faced with another person's suffering and are moved to try to lessen it. The ability to listen to another person's sorrow or anguish in a way that lessens their feelings of sorrow is known as compassionate listening. We can finally assist someone in starting to recover via self-reflection by embracing and nonjudgmentally listening to them and understanding their suffering.

We have to be willing to set aside our inclinations to judge or try to "fix" the other person if we wish to be a compassionate listener. It will require us to have a legitimate desire to understand what the person is experiencing with a sense of openness, patience, and emotional fortitude. Similar to most skills, it

How can you become a compassionate listener?

To build your skills, use these strategies within the context of a face-to-face interaction.

Be attentive:

Pay attention to the other person. Keep good eye contact and straight gaze with the person. Keep the conversation focused on the present and offer the other person your full attention at all times. Avoid the need to constantly check your watch, cellphone, or let your thoughts wander.

Focus on listening:

While the person is speaking, withhold any responses and questions you might have until he or she pauses.  Pay close attention to how and what the person is saying. Make sure that your posture and body language are open and inviting.

Demonstrate interest:

Make the conversation about the person and his/her issues. Refrain from interjecting any opinions or anecdotes that might refocus the conversation away from the individual and on to you. This interaction is NOT about you.

Avoid judgment:

Compassionate listening requires you to listen with respect and understanding. During this process, don’t assume, suggest, or argue your point of view.  Allow the person to freely express themselves without judging.

Be authentic:

As you engage in the listening process, be sincere about your intentions.  The person speaking to you needs to feel confident that you are trustworthy and sincerely interested in his or her well-being. To be less than authentic will undermine the success of your interaction.

Monitor your emotions:

Pay attention to the other person. Keep good eye contact and straight gaze with the person. Keep the conversation focused on the present and offer the other person your full attention at all times. Avoid the need to constantly check your watch, cellphone, or let your thoughts wander.