- The process of listening involves six stages. In addition to hearing a message, you also understand, interpret, and evaluate it, before remembering and responding to it.
- Although knowing how the different listening functions work and how to switch between them is important, try not to multitask when listening or you might completely miss information.
- Your listening style is influenced by your personal preference, gender, and culture. However, being an active listener also means using all four styles as needed.
- Though common, try to avoid listening pitfalls, such as selective, pseudo-, or aggressive listening.
- By managing your feedback, adapting your listening, and recognizing the value of silence, you can improve your active listening skills.