Defining Active Listening Select elements of active listening from those shown below: Noticing tone and volume Noticing pace Repetition Repeating back to them Gaining agreement Looking for contradictions between their words and actions Be confident Letting them speak as much as you Posture and gestures Obstacles to Active Listening and How to Minimise Them List three things you can do to minimise the following obstacles: Using the terms you have selected write your own definition of active listening: Listening skills are an essential element in respectful communication and are essential leadership skills. This worksheet is designed to help you learn and respond to the Spotlight on Listening Skills and help you focus on your use of active listening. Physical environment Your mental blocks Emotional obstacles 1 2 3 Conversation: Listening Skills You should take approximately two hours to complete this worksheet and read the accompanying Spotlight

Authenticity - Conversation - Listening Skills Published by The Institute of Leadership & Management 2018 The Institute of Leadership & Management The Institute of Leadership & Management, Pacific House, Relay Point, Tamworth B77 5PA www.InstituteLM.com +44 (0) 1543 266886 Planning to be an Active Listener You have looked at the elements of active listening and reviewed the key elements of how to improve your listening. It takes practice and planning. Use the graphic below to help you plan your better listening. The exercise will be more effective if you work on a specific communication scenario so think of a person, a time, a place and an issue either in the recent past or the near future that you want to get just right. Even small changes will make a difference. Review Edward De Bono developed thinking hats as a way of looking at problems using different mindsets. There are six different colour symbolising each. Using the keywords summarise your improved understanding of active listening: RED: How do I feel about active listening now? BLUE: What do I still need to do to make this work ? YELLOW: What will be the benefits if I make this work? WHITE: What do I know or understand better now? GREEN: Do I need to think creatively in making this work? BLACK: What problems might there be in taking this action? Positive Mental Approach Positive Physical Environment How to be Calm Communication Outcome: The person, the situation: How will you teach your colleagues about this? WorksheetConversation: Listening Skills