Being a great listener is one of the easiest ways to show support for colleagues and mentees. Listening allows you to ask the right questions, enriching any conversation. Anyone can become a better, more active listener by following just four simple steps.

1. Strategies for
Becoming an
Active Listener:
Tips for Mentors and Managers
4

2. Whether you’re a mentor or manager,
listening is one of the best ways to show
your support and create a rapport.

3. Active listening allows you to ask
informed questions and keep
the conversation going.
Employ the following tips
to be a good active listener.
[ [

4. Remove distractions and interruptions
during meetings. Don’t answer calls,
check emails, or do other tasks while you
are engaged in the conversation.
1 Set the stage

5. Multitasking and other interruptions
signal to your mentee or colleague
that he or she is not as important as
your personal agenda.[ [

6. Give your mentee or colleague’s words
your full attention rather than thinking
about what you want to say while
he or she is still talking.
2 Pay attention

7. Show you are listening by
giving nonverbal cues—
nod your head in agreement,
smile, make good eye contact.[ [

8. Restating what you heard for clarification
(“So, you’re saying that…”)
reinforces that you’re listening and
helps you avoid making assumptions.
3 Clarify

9. Probing for more with
open-ended questions
(“What made you feel that way?”)
also demonstrates that you
are listening.
[ [

10. Don’t be afraid to acknowledge
strong feelings when you hear them
(“It sounds like you were really frustrated”).
This helps you better understand
what is really going on.
4
Acknowledge
feelings

11. Pay attention to hesitancy or
pausing—clues that something
is not being said—and
probe further, if appropriate
(“I’m wondering why that
bothered you so much”).
[ [

12. After conversations, take a moment to
think about how well you listened and
what you can do better.
This will set you down a path to better,
more open relationships with
colleagues and mentees.

13. Learn how to make the first
90 days of any mentoring
relationship a success.
http://bit.ly/JbStartingStrong
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