What is Empathetic Listening?
Are you commander Troy?
You read a lot about the importance of empathetic listening. But, no one ever seems to tell you how to do it. What is Empathy? What does it have to do with Listening? So, here you go.
What you’re try to do is develop empathy with the speaker. Empathy is defined as a feeling of concern and understanding for anthers’ situation or feelings. An ability to see things from the perspective of another person.
How to develop empathy.
Probe for understanding.
Ask questions. ” What are you most concerned about?” “What is you main goal right now?”
Consider the psychologist who seeks out family background data before creating a counseling plan.
Paraphrase the speaker.
Begin your restatements with phrases like “I sense you mean” or “If I understand you correctly” and “What I seem to hear you saying is…”
Observe nonverbal clues.
This can be as simple as noting the person’s tone, cadence and volume of speech.
Note the context that may give you clues to underlying messages behind the words.
Provide feedback only when you are certain you understand.
Focus your feedback with “I” statements.
“This is how I perceive it.”
“These are my observations.”
“I” message communicate equality, “you” statements are accusatory and should be avoided.
There you have it, empathetic listening in a nutshell.