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  Provide Thoughtful Responses: Respond in a way that acknowledges the speaker’s perspective and
                     adds value to the discussion.

                 Phases of Active Listening
                 ‘Active listening’ is the best type of listening. It occurs when you hear, comprehend, respond to, and recall
                 what is being spoken. The following are the five phases or stages of active listening:

                 1.   Receiving: This involves paying attention to the speaker and actively taking in the information being
                     communicated without distractions.
                 2.   Understanding: This means comprehending the message by interpreting words, tone, and non-verbal
                     cues correctly.

                 3.  Remembering: This refers to retaining and recalling key information from the conversation when needed.
                 4.   Evaluating:  This  is  the  process  of  analysing  and  assessing  the  message  to  determine  its  validity,
                     importance, and relevance.
                 5.   Responding: This involves providing feedback through verbal or non-verbal means to show that the
                     message has been received and understood.

                 How can Active Listening be Ensured

                 To ensure active listening, use the acronym ‘RESPECT’:
                 R –  Remove (distractions), such as phone notifications, background noise, or multitasking, to focus entirely
                    on the speaker.

                 E –  Eye contact with the speaker to show attentiveness and engagement. This signals that you are actively
                    listening and interested in what they are saying.
                 S –  Show  that  you  are  paying  close  attention  to  the  speaker  through  gestures.  Use  non-verbal  cues  like
                    nodding, smiling, or leaning slightly forward to demonstrate interest and encouragement. This reassures
                    the speaker that they are being heard.
                 P –  Pay attention and concentrate on what the speaker is saying. Focus on the speaker’s words, tone, and
                    emotions without planning your response.

                 E –  Empathise with the speaker’s feelings. Understand and share the speaker’s feelings by putting yourself in
                    their shoes.
                 C – Clear up any doubts, ask questions.
                 T –  Tune in to the speaker's timing, i.e., wait for the speaker to complete before responding. This ensures they
                    feel truly heard and valued.

                 Overcoming Barriers to Active Listening

                 You must have now understood the phases of active listening and various factors affecting active listening.
                 Let us now attempt to comprehend how to overcome barriers to active listening.

                  Factor             How does a factor become a barrier?      How can one overcome the barrier?
                  Being              When you are preoccupied, you            Don't let your emotions take over your
                  preoccupied        may not pay close attention to what      thoughts.
                                     someone is saying.                       Phones and digital devices should be kept

                                                                              at a distance.


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