70 | COSERE These three subgroups of active listening, moreover, improve three fundamental skills in those who practice them: awareness, reception, and perception. “Awareness implies attentiveness on the part of the listener… [listening] to look for new ideas. Reception implies listening [the] aim to sift out the main ideas of the speaker… by paying proper attention and concentration not only to the words being spoken but also to the nonverbal cues. Perception completes the art of listening effectively. Perception means the act of proper interpretation of what you hear, such that it facilitates understanding” (Khanna, 2020). Unfortunately, though, understanding the three constituent listening types that make up active listening, as well as the three main skills that the process involves, is no substitute for the only true method of learning the technique - practice, practice, practice! The good news is that active listening is useful in every avenue of life, not just in one’s professional context, but also in personal relationships. With this in mind, the next time you are having a conversation with someone, pay attention to your impulses. Do you feel like you have to interrupt at certain points? Have you lost interest partway through the discussion? Have you fully internalised the words they are saying? Engaging in reflective exercises like this is a very beneficial method for becoming a more conscientious communicator. And with that being said, don’t feel irritated by these impulses that are part and parcel of communication - they are natural! Reflection of this sort might feel forced at first, but if you repeat it often enough, it will soon become a habit! • Role-playing Exercise: With the above in mind, gather some peers and practice active listening through role-playing scenarios. Receive constructive feedback on nonverbal cues and conceptualise some ways you can integrate this feedback into your future communication. If you’d prefer to practice these techniques in “real-life”, you could simply ask colleagues you interact with regularly to provide some constructive criticisms or feedback they may have about past communications you shared. This is an undeniably intimidating concept, but it is worth it in the long run! • Group Activity: Engage in a collaborative exercise where each participant contributes to a shared understanding of a scenario. This could involve a planned work meeting to discuss a curriculum or an upcoming policy change. Try to remain conscientious throughout, exercising some of the theories and techniques you have read about. • Reflection Journal: Reflect on the role of reciprocation in communication. How can you ensure communication is mutual and balanced in your interactions?
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