Listening is hearing with focus and attention. A good listener is patient and respectful. They have empathy and curiosity, and they absorb what is being said. They maintain good emotional intelligence.
1. When I am in a conversation, I get distracted by my own thoughts.
2. In conversation, I shut off my phone to listen carefully.
3. I refrain from making judgments.
4. I avoid interrupting the speaker.
5. Withholding my advice helps me listen better.
6. I think about my response while a person is talking.
7. I jump in with my own thoughts if a conversation partner is struggling to explain his point.
8. I ask questions to understand the information being relayed better.
9. I am actively listening when a person speaks.
10. It helps me to paraphrase what is being said to me.
11. I avoid finishing other people’s sentences.
12. I pay attention to the speaker's body language.
13. I avoid shooting down ideas.
14. I wait for the person to finish speaking before making up my mind.
15. I am curious when I listen.
16. I recall important details from conversations.
17. I avoid rushing a conversation.
18. I want to understand the perspective of others.
19. I sometimes have a dismissive response ready when in conversation.
20. I encourage more dialogue if I can’t understand what the speaker is saying.