B.R.I.E.F A way of listening!
How to become a better listener?
The following attending behaviors are skills which we can learn and practice to improve our ability to listen. An way easy to remember them is to remember this simple formula B.R.I.E.F:
B: Body posture including gestures and movements etc. which communicate attentiveness.
R: Respect for the other person's right to speak and be heard.
I: Intimacy involves creating a safe caring environment in which ideas and feelings can be expressed freely.
E: Eye contact communicates interest and attention
F:Following is both verbal and non-verbal. It is an invitation to say more. Verbal following includes statements like, "I see" or, "Tell me more about it." Non-verbal following is communicating by nodding, touching, or smiling.
You are an active listener if you have:
- Defers judgement.
- Ensures that she or he really understands what is being said by paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is repeating back in your own words what you understood to be said. This allows you to be sure you received the message as it was intended.
- Resists giving advice unless it is asked for.
- Encourages the speaker to discover her or his solution by helping to clarify the issues related to the problem (if there is one?
"The greatest gift you can give to another is the purity of your attention" ---Richard Moss, MD
Cheers!
Recent Comments
17
Great blog! Nice quote. THX Larry
PS Have you critiqued my site in progress yet? It's at http://disabledfolksonthego.siterubix.com THX again
As the saying goes, that is why God gave us two ears but only one mouth. We are meant to listen more, talk less. Nicely put, Nentia. ~ Jude
Nicely put Nenita.
I remember when I used to work as a trainer for 'phone communications we used to use IILA - Inform, Invite, Listen, Acknowledge as the cycle for a telephone conversation but it works pretty much anywhere.
E: Engage yourself in the presentation
F: Follow along
Great list, forgot letter E though (having an F -follow-) so I stuck one in :) Feel free to change it :
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Great post...thank you for sharing. I always try to be a good listener, but some days it's hard, lol. I sometimes interrupt the talker with my questions-not meaning to, just because I am so curious. Patience! :)