![]() ![]() You could do it right from the start but I like to wait until the listeners actually need it for the very first time. When you distribute the Active Listening Prompts sheet is up to you. Look to the Reflection Tips tab for some useful starting questions to explore the impact of actively listening to others. If possible, find a few minutes at the conclusion of the exercise to explore what was discovered as a part of the experience. Your ultimate ambition is to engage your group in a few rounds of intentional active listening. Now that you have one round under your belt, you are ready to lead this exercise several more times until every person has been a speaker. And, importantly, invite the speaker to correct anything that has been misunderstood as they hear this feedback. If some of the listeners are unclear about what you are actually asking them to do, invite them (at least) to paraphrase or repeat back what they heard the speaker say to check for accuracy. Guided by the prompts on this sheet, instruct them to respond to their partner’s sharing in an effort to truly hear what the speaker had to say. Next, distribute the Active Listening Prompts sheet to each listener. Give them a couple of minutes, or whatever timeframe makes sense. When ready, invite all of the speakers to share. Accept that this will be hard for some members of your group. Just listen, really listen to what the speaker is sharing. Instruct them to only listen to their partner without judgement or offering any responses for the whole time. ![]() The most important role of this exercise is that of the listeners. What is one thing that frustrates you about living in your town?Īt this point, you should observe a number of your speakers looking eager to start sharing but ask them to hold on for a moment.What is your favourite thing about where you live?.What’s something you would love to invent?.What do you normally do on the weekends?.What are you not looking forward to today/this week?.What are you most looking forward to today/this week?.There are a million topics to choose from, but here’s a short list to whet your appetite if you’re running short of ideas: Then pose a question you would like all of the speakers to respond to. Once gathered, tell your group that you’ll soon lead them through a series of conversations that will provide an opportunity to truly listen to one another.īreak into pairs or groups of 3 or 4 people (at the most.) Ask one person in each group to volunteer to be the first speaker. In advance, you’ll want to download and print a copy of the Active Listening Prompts sheet from the Resources tab, one copy for each person. This activity is especially well suited for difficult conversations and for offering support. Have you noticed that many times we listen to what a person is saying without really listening to what the other person is trying to say? This disconnects us from that person and each other. It requires both attention and intention, two skills we could all improve and become better at using. Invite your group to reflect on their experience in groups or as a whole.Īctive listening is an important skill for improving our relationships – both personal and professional.When all group members have spoken, regather your group.When ready, repeat this process with a new speaker responding to a new question, eg What is one of your favourite memories?.Allow several minutes for listener responses to be shared.When the speaker has finished sharing, invite the listeners to respond by following the Active Listening Prompts (see Resources tab) one at a time.Instruct all other members to only listen to the speaker, ie offer no judgement or immediate responses.Allow each speaker 2 to 3 minutes to share with their partner(s.).Prompt these volunteers to respond to a question you pose, eg What are you most looking forward to today?.Ask one person in each pair or group to volunteer as the first speaker.Form pairs or small groups of 3 or 4 people.Announce that you will soon lead them through a brief exercise that will help to sharpen their listening skills. ![]()
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