![]() ![]() “I can hear the frustration in your voice. “So, I understand that you are not happy with your tutor and that you might like to request a different tutor?” Empathic Listening It is person-based, rather than situation-based.Ĭontinuing the above example of a student who is unhappy with their music tutor, here is an example of active listening compared to an example of empathic listening: Active Listening While active listening is often used to resolve an issue, empathic listening validates the speaker and how they feel. The difference is that in empathic listening, the listener seeks to put themselves into the other person’s shoes and actually affirm and validate what’s being said.Īctive listeners repeat back what the speaker has said as part of the process but empathic listeners make sure that they have understood the emotion behind what was said as well. Empathic listening does this too, but it is more than simply a tool or method of listening. Throughout the process, the listener gives verbal and non-verbal cues to show that they are paying attention. Then the listener restates what the speaker has told them. Empathic Listening vs Active ListeningĪctive listening is a method of listening closely to what the other person is saying. This can help de-escalate the situation and lead to a more productive conversation. He is trying to understand her feelings, even if he doesn’t agree with them. ![]() Let’s see if we can find a compromise then.īy acknowledging what his girlfriend is saying and trying to see things from her perspective, John is engaging in empathetic listening. John: Okay, I can see how that would be important to you. My parents are really important to me and I want them to meet you. Robin: John, please try to understand my perspective. Robin: That’s not true! They just want what’s best for us. ![]() John: Because they always criticize me and make me feel uncomfortable. John: I don’t want to see your parents this weekend. In this second scenario, John is arguing with his girlfriend Robin about whether or not to see her parents this weekend. They then show that they understand and are attentive to how the student is feeling. Here, the counselor has listened to what the student has said, and has given them space to express themselves. Student (speaker): “All Mark does is hurl a volley of criticisms at me for an hour and a half every time I have a music lesson with him.”Ĭounselor (listener): “ That must be incredibly frustrating for you, especially at exam time.” Here is a scenario of empathic listening, taken from an example of a student seeking counseling because they are having trouble dealing with their tutor: This helps the listener to understand the situation from the speaker’s perspective, and is key to the success of the empathic listening process.įor more on the different types of listening, see this article. This means that we do not listen properly to what the other person is saying.Įmpathic listening requires you to listen more than speak. Too often, we are more concerned with waiting for a pause in the conversation so we can get our own point across. It’s about being interested in understanding what the other person is saying and feeling, rather than just waiting for your turn to speak.Įmpathic listening is about considering how the other person is feeling. Summary: Empathic listening is a way of listening that involves trying to understand the other person’s perspective and feelings. If you want to know more about what it can mean for you, then please keep reading. Empathic listening is a valuable skill to have in the workplace, and is incredibly useful for interpersonal relationships.
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