How to be a better “listener”
10/14/2020
We all want to be heard and understood. We are here for you! Our clinicians at In Step Behavioral
Health are available through telehealth services.
How to be a better “listener”
Effective communication is the key to all relationships. But, how are you doing when it comes to listening
to others? Research tells us that only about 10% of us are listening as well as we could. It takes practice
to listen to understand rather than just to respond.
Here are some ways we can work on this!
1. Put your phone down, give your undivided attention
2. Maintain eye contact and give visual cues, like nodding your head
3. Refrain from interruption and the impulse to think of what you want to say next
4. Listen to the words and the silence. Practice feeling more comfortable with silence.
5. Ask open ended questions such as, “what was that like?”
Source: Karen Osten, Psychology Today, 10/5/16
Pollyanna Vujovic APN is a board certified Family Practice Nurse (FNP) who works with individuals
having a variety of mental health needs. She engages her patients through empathic listening, identifying
their treatment needs and setting goals to decrease suffering and improve their quality of life.
We all want to be heard and understood. We are here for you! Our clinicians at In Step Behavioral
Health are available through telehealth services.
How to be a better “listener”
Effective communication is the key to all relationships. But, how are you doing when it comes to listening
to others? Research tells us that only about 10% of us are listening as well as we could. It takes practice
to listen to understand rather than just to respond.
Here are some ways we can work on this!
1. Put your phone down, give your undivided attention
2. Maintain eye contact and give visual cues, like nodding your head
3. Refrain from interruption and the impulse to think of what you want to say next
4. Listen to the words and the silence. Practice feeling more comfortable with silence.
5. Ask open ended questions such as, “what was that like?”
Source: Karen Osten, Psychology Today, 10/5/16
Pollyanna Vujovic APN is a board certified Family Practice Nurse (FNP) who works with individuals
having a variety of mental health needs. She engages her patients through empathic listening, identifying
their treatment needs and setting goals to decrease suffering and improve their quality of life.
