IN THIS PODCAST
SUMMARY
- Tips for being a good listener
- Why some people have trouble listening
- How you can signal to your partner that you’re listening
TIPS FOR BEING A GOOD LISTENER
- Listen, don’t interrupt: It is very common to get impatient with people and cut them off before they finish their sentence, especially when there may be some tension. Some people interrupt as a power play over their partner by shutting them down, and some people interrupt because they think they may forget it. If this is the case, write them down.
WHY SOME PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE LISTENING
Some people fear listening or choose not to listen because by hearing what the other one has to say they may agree passively when all they want to do is hold the fort and lower the drawbridge. You can be a good listener and have a dialogue with your ex where you say that you heard what they had to say, but you still do not agree with them.
Listening is different from agreeing. Some people do not want to listen to their ex because they do not want to hear their pain, however, this is necessary to learn so that they could do the same for you when you are in pain.
Take stock of your own listening and perhaps your own patterns of interrupting people. You could learn and improve your communication skills simply by taking stock and being willing to listen.
HOW YOU CAN SIGNAL TO YOUR PARTNER THAT YOU’RE LISTENING
- Signal that you are listening: Some people do not acknowledge that they have understood what their ex or partner has said because they do not give out any signals, whether in facial expressions or lack of words, and this can create frustration or confusion in the other person. You can learn as a listener to do simple things, such as nodding your head or making noises of agreement so that the other person knows you are following them.
- Eye-contact: This is not staring at them, but having friendly, warm eye contact every now and then.
