| Too often the focus on healthy relationship | | | | The last of the three active listening skills I will discuss |
| communication exists in what each person says. The | | | | in this article is using summarizing. This technique is not |
| idea that one-way messages are at the heart of good | | | | known to many so chances are you do not use this |
| relationship communication is what destroys | | | | skill. Even if you know of this technique, I aim to |
| relationships. Active listening skills are a must-have | | | | encourage you to pull it out of your communication bag |
| technique to anyone interested in building good | | | | of tricks to improve your relationships. |
| relationships. There are a variety of active listening | | | | Summarizing involves rephrasing what the person has |
| skills you can use, but the ones I will be discussing | | | | said in your own words. The secret here is "in your |
| today are questions, using body language, and | | | | own words". There are around four summarizing |
| summarizing. | | | | techniques involving an emphasis on emotions, facts, |
| The first active listening skill you can begin using right | | | | and combinations of the two. |
| away in building good relationships is questioning. | | | | Summarizing plays a role in developing an |
| Asking questions by firing them away like an | | | | understanding of what your partner is saying and |
| interrogator pounding his suspicious criminal is as | | | | develops a connection. It is a great technique to build |
| effective as one-way communication. Questioning in | | | | intimacy in your relationship. I encourage you to even |
| active listening skills is more about the quality of the | | | | use summarizing in everyday social situations and |
| question. You are not an interrogator in your | | | | conversations as it helps to build the connection. |
| relationship so do not act like one. | | | | The other person hears your summary of what he or |
| If there is something you do not understand, then ask | | | | she said and knows you understand or will then |
| your partner to rephrase, restate, or repeat the | | | | restate what you do misunderstand. He or she will also |
| statement. Active questioning skills are an effective | | | | see you are interested because you are able to |
| technique when combined with body language | | | | restate what was said. When combined with good |
| because it will communicate an interest towards your | | | | body language, your interest is communicated the |
| partner. | | | | entire time during the conversation. |
| I believe the most important aspect of active listening is | | | | Active listening skills are an essential technique to |
| good body language. Without effective use of your | | | | develop if you want to build a good relationship. The |
| body language, no matter how good your questioning | | | | listening skills are useful in more then just building |
| or other forms of active listening are, your intention to | | | | intimate relationships as you can just as effectively |
| build a good relationship will fall through the floor. | | | | apply them in social conversations. |
| Effective body language communicates an interest | | | | In addition, combine effective questioning, good body |
| when combined with questioning. Face your partner | | | | language, and summarizing together and you will begin |
| and show the person you are there primary concern. | | | | to use the power of active listening in your |
| Also make good eye contact. Screaming kids, noisy | | | | relationships. These 3 listening skills are a great start in |
| crowds, and football on the television are all | | | | mastering two-way communication to build great |
| distractions that will pull your eyes and focus away | | | | relationships. |
| from what really matters. | | | | |