Active Listening Skills

How long will this course take?

This course is 4 hours long and spread across 1 day.

Who needs this training?

Anyone in any sector background can benefit from taking this course. It is an important skill to have in every role, that can be carried through life.

What are the main points covered?

The main points are as follows: understanding what active listening is, knowing the difference between ‘hearing’ and ‘listening’, learning how to improve their listening skills, knowing verbal behaviour categories and more.

How is it delivered?

Courses are delivered in-house or online via webinar/e-learning for up to 12 people. We also hold open courses across the UK.

What is the difference between hearing and listening?

Hearing is described as the act of perceiving sounds by the ear; Listening, however, is an action where you choose to actively concentrate on what you hear. When you are listening, your brain takes the time to process and understand information; whereas when you ‘hear’ you don’t necessarily concentrate or pay attention to the sounds.

How can ‘listening’ be a skill?

Listening can be considered a skill because through it one can improve their productivity as well as use their ability to influence, persuade and negotiate. Listening can be an asset to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings.

What are the signs of active listening?

Active listening focuses not only on verbal communication but also on non-verbal communication, such as eye contact, smiling, one’s posture and the way they mirror. In terms of verbal communication, the signs are: positive reinforcement, remembering and demonstrating concern.

How do I become a better active listener?

Throughout the course, candidates will be taught different techniques on how to improve their listening skills, and they will also be able to identify the obstacles they face when it comes to listening (such as distractions they might be facing).