Active listening is more than listening. It's trying to understand and respond to information from a speaker, keeping eye contact or replying. Each of these are a form of active listening. Let's rediscover the benefits of active listening and how it can strengthen the bonds we have with one another.
Listening is one of the most important skills you can have. Given all the listening that we do, you would think we'd be good at it! However, active listening is a skill, and like all skills, it takes time to become good at. On Mindtools.com, we've found an article detailing the definition of active listening and it's benefits.
6 Steps for More Effective Active Listening
While everyone can easily understand the basic concept of active listening, enhancing the skill of active listening itself can be slightly more difficult. There is however, a checklist of tips one can use to improve their active listening skills. On the ccl.org (Center For Creative Leadership) website, an article about effective leadership mentions 6 unique steps for better active listening. These steps include being sure to clarify, pay attention, and most importantly, to share your thoughts.
Before we go, there's an opportunity we'd like to share with those looking to network in Union County. Quoted from the Union County Youth Networking Conference event's About section:
Let's maximize our impact in Union County! This conference is created by a coalition of agencies serving youth/young adults living in Union County. We will identify issues affecting the delivery of essential services to this population and recommend ways to resolve them. The round table discussions will allow participants to share ideas, brainstorm, and discuss available resources within Union County.
Keynote Speaker: Eric LeGrand, Motivational Speaker and Entrepreneur
and Barshay Stinson, Youth Advisor
Round Table Topics:
DDD/DCF Youth Transitioning to Adulthood
Behavioral Health
Domestic Violence
Trauma Informed Care
Teen Trafficking
Juvenile Justice (Services for Returning Adjudicated Youth, Gangs, Marijuana Legalization)
Employment Training
Services for LGBTQI Community
Funded by the Union County Board of County Commissioners.
Date and time
Tue, December 6, 2022, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST
Location
Online
What do you think of our second look at Active Listening? Do you consider yourself an active listener? Let us know in the comments below! For youth and young adults, ages 13-26, join us on the SPAN Youth Chat on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:00 PM.
Resources...
Link to SPAN's website: www.spanadvocacy.org
Link to SPAN's Youth in the Know Resource Page: Youth in the Know
We're here for you! Call SPAN if you need assistance: 1-800-654-7726
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