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What is active listening?

A key for opening up to the world

In today's business world, where effective communication and strong relationships are fundamental to achieve organizational success, the practice of active listening stands as a key pillar in the development of companies.

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Active listening: What it is, benefits, and techniques

It's a communication technique in which the speaker's words and gestures are carefully analyzed in order to achieve a comprehensive and empathic understanding of the message being conveyed.

What is active listening? It's based on listening attentively, deep understanding, and the ability to provide accurate solutions. This process builds trust and strengthens human connections.

The ability to listen with attention and empathy not only enriches the quality of interaction between people, but also shapes the corporate culture, promotes collaboration, and contributes to a more productive and harmonious work environment.

Benefits of active listening in a company

Active listening is a very valuable tool for communication, and it has a significant impact in the work environment. Its major benefits are:

A person listening to a colleague speak

  • Increases the level of empathy
    It focuses on understanding the words expressed by the speaker, as well as their emotions, tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. Active listening directs conscious and deep attention to these aspects, which establishes a more profound connection with the speaker.

  • Builds a positive work environment
    Listening skills play a key role in creating a positive work environment by creating an atmosphere based on respect, trust, and collaboration. This results in each person feeling appreciated and respected, which enhances group dynamics and relationships among co-workers.

  • Increases commitment to the company
    The practice of active listening increases the sense of inclusion given that each team member feels like an essential part of the organization. By knowing that their decisions and contributions are valuable to the company's growth, it reinforces this feeling and increases participation.
Two work colleagues listening to another one speak

  • Helps make better decisions
    Active communication enables more well-informed, equitable, and effective decision-making. It promotes the understanding of multiple perspectives and leads to more creative solutions, which helps prevent mistakes and increases both the quality and scope of the decisions made.

  • Increases productivity
    It promotes clear and effective communication, which in turn leads to better understanding and collaboration in a work environment. Altogether, these factors drive improved productivity by reducing barriers and optimizing focus on essential tasks.

  • Enhances communication
    Active listening enhances communication in the workplace by creating a reciprocal, empathetic, and respectful understanding. This aids in building stronger relationships, reducing misunderstandings, and promoting more effective problem solving.

Active listening techniques

There are various techniques to put active listening into practice. These are some examples:

Two co-workers talking to each other

Avoid interrupting

In order to practice active listening, it's essential to focus our attention on the other person's words and avoid interrupting with our own ideas. This results in a deeper and more complete understanding of the conversation.

Two smiling people listening to a co-worker

Show supportive behaviors

Given that the listener's input in active listening is limited, it's important to show support through positive, nonverbal communication and avoid distracted behaviors such as crossing your arms. Smiling and nodding are recommended to show you're paying attention and create a pleasant atmosphere.

An employee asking a question during a presentation

Ask specific and open-ended questions

Once the speaker has finished expressing their ideas, showing you're paying attention with questions focused on the other person or by using certain phrases, such as "tell me more about it," is recommended.

A group of people talking and interrupting each other

Listen without passing judgment

It's important to avoid expressing your personal judgment when listening to someone. By focusing your attention on their words, a deeper understanding is achieved, and the other person feels heard and not judged.

Two co-workers talking and listening to each other

Paraphrase and summarize

Once the other person is finished speaking, rephrasing what has been said in your own words confirms understanding. This process shows attentiveness and reinforces the purpose of active listening, while avoiding personal comments or judgments.

A person expresses their opinion while other people actively listen.

Establish eye contact

Constant eye contact during a conversation increases attention and lets the speaker know that they're being heard and understood. It also ensures the listener's concentration and makes it possible to observe nonverbal language to improve comprehension.

Work at Repsol

Attracting, nurturing, and retaining talent that sustainably drives our company's achievements is fundamental to us. This objective translates into a value proposition for our employees that's built upon a foundation based on reciprocal respect, trust, and communication.

At Repsol, we value the contribution of each team member and promote work methods that encourage active listening, innovation, and collaboration with the aim of moving towards a constantly evolving entrepreneurial mindset.

Employee motivation

Motivated employees not only strive to achieve company goals, but also satisfiy their own needs. Do you want to learn more about employee motivation?

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