Active listening: what it is and what it means

Active listening is a communication behavior that, during a conversation, shows up as not interrupting the other person, asking clarifying questions and summarizing what you have understood before responding. The goal is to produce an informed decision. Without active listening, the other person feels they have not been heard and the conversation produces no change.

Distinctive: not interrupting the other person
Distinctive: summarizing what you have understood before responding
Essential: asking clarifying questions
Essential: informed decision
Constant: communication behavior

Glossary

Active listening

A communication behavior that does not interrupt, asks clarifying questions and summarizes before responding, in order to produce informed decisions.