Active listening is a way ###### communicating that can increase understanding ###### a speaker and a listener. ###### goal is to establish the ###### communication of ideas and feelings. ###### active listener pays close attention ###### what another person is saying ###### interrupting. He or she then ###### the key points of the ###### message to make sure they ###### agree on what was said. ###### the speaker has gotten his ###### her point across, the roles ######, and the speaker becomes the ######.]]>
When you are an active ######, you do not have to ###### with the other person's point ###### view. However, you should try ###### best to understand what the ###### person is saying. You should ###### quietly without expressing your opinion ###### what the speaker says, even ###### you think he or she ###### wrong.
How Does Active Listening Work?

Active listening can be ###### by a third person, such ###### a therapist.]]>
Active listening works best ###### speaker and listener sit facing ###### other and make eye contact. ###### two people speak in turns, ###### one person speaking first while ###### other listens carefully, without talking.

###### goal is for the listener ###### give full, undivided attention to ###### speaker. When you are the ######, you should avoid thinking about ###### to say next or how ###### respond or whether what the ###### is saying is even correct.]]>
###### the speaker finishes talking, you ###### summarize what he or she ###### said. Summarizing lets the speaker ###### how well you understood what ###### said, and gives him or ###### a chance to clear up ###### misunderstandings.

The speaker can clarify ###### needed until he or she ###### fully understood. Speaker and listener ###### switch roles.]]>
###### listening is particularly useful for ###### who live or work together. ###### members and co-workers often develop ###### listening habits. They react to ###### other based on what they ###### the other person to say ###### than on what is actually ######. Active listening provides a way ###### break this pattern.

Sometimes people ###### out what family members are ###### because they think they know ###### is coming next.]]>
Active ###### can also be useful in ###### workplace. Miscommunication or lack of ###### between co-workers can lead to ###### feelings, which in turn can ###### it difficult for people to ###### together.]]>
Imagine someone ###### is unexpectedly rude to their ######, or seems inconsiderate of their ######. The co-worker might feel hurt, ###### they might become angry and ###### to dislike that person. Active ###### can help resolve such problems. ###### allows a person to say ###### they feel about their co-worker's ######, while the co-worker is given ###### chance to explain and maybe ###### apologize.

It could be that ###### rude co-worker was going through ###### difficult time at home or ###### the job and was unaware ###### how insulting his or her ###### was.]]>
Sometimes people ###### not communicate with those they ###### close to because they fear ###### other person's reaction. Rather than ######, for example, "It really hurts ###### feelings when you come home ###### without calling ahead," a husband ###### wife might say nothing at ###### in order to avoid a ######. However, the hurt feelings remain ###### can build up over time. ###### the partners actively listen to ###### other, though, they can fully ###### how they feel, and this ###### help avoid any hurt feelings.]]>
Active listening ###### a safe environment for people ###### express themselves. The open sharing ###### ideas and feelings that it ###### can improve relationships, whether at ######, school or work.]]>