How to Be an Empathic Listener

In a world where time is a scarce resource, and everyone seems to be running after something, it has become increasingly difficult for many of us to exercise patience and listen to others, before we express our own opinions and desires.

We expect others to understand us without ever putting ourselves in their shoes. We want others to resonate with our views without giving them a chance to voice their opinions. And even if they do express their opinions or offer some constructive criticism, we rarely return the favor.

As a result, our day-to-day interactions can become nothing more than a ‘cold’ exchange of replies; no ‘real’ connection, no empathy.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

If you are willing to listen instead of talk, understand instead of criticize, and comfort instead of judge, you can quickly turn a conversation into an authentic human interaction.

Whether you’re talking to your spouse, friend, boss, coworker, neighbor or even the barista who works at your favorite coffee shop, empathic listening can significantly improve the quality of your interaction.

Contrary to popular belief, it was collaboration, not competition, that helped humankind survive, thrive, and reach the level of socio-economic development we see today.

And one of the keys to an authentic and fruitful collaboration is empathic listening.  

Source: Happier Human