It's not enough to passively listen in a conversation- you need to listen actively! When you become a better active listener, you improve your relationship building activities and professional communication skills overall. In today's SlideShare, we take you through 5 traits exhibited by first rate listeners that you can make your own.

1. 5 Traits of Awesomely Active Listeners (We Hear You!)
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2. “Listening is not merely hearing.
Listening is reacting.
Listening is being affected by what you hear.
Listening is active.”
-Michael Shurtleff, Broadway Casting Director
Author of Audition
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3. We listen at 125-250 words per minute.
We think at 1,000-3,000 words per minute.
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/Listening_facts_you_never_knew_14645.aspx#.
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4. That means if we don’t pay attention
to our listening in a conversation, our
mind can run away on us!
(Figuratively, of course.)
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5. All conversations and relationship building
activities benefit from good Active Listening.
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6. Active Listening keeps us present in a conversation, lets
the speaker know they are being heard, and forges a
connection through honest, focused interaction.
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7. Want to be a better Active Listener?
(Of course! We all do.)
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8. Here are 5 Traits of Awesomely Active Listeners that
you can adopt for all of your communication.
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9. Trait 1:
Good active listeners ask open-ended questions.
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10. The best way to get a conversation going is to ask an open-ended
question; one that can’t be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No”.
Open-ended questions show your conversation
partner that you are interested in their experiences.
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11. Open-ended questions start with phrases like:
“What are your thoughts on…. ?”
“How do you feel about…?”
“How would you have handled…?”
If you are good at listening actively, you’re comfortable letting someone else share.
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12. Trait 2:
Good active listeners use the Head Nod.
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13. A Head Nod is visual proof that you
are listening to what is being said.
Coupled with good open body language, your
conversation partner knows you’re completely engaged.
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14. Did You Know?
“Scientists call our ability to zero in on a single speaker amid a
cacophony of other sounds the cocktail party problem.”
– Mary Bates, brainfacts.org
http://www.brainfacts.org/Sensing-Thinking-Behaving/Awareness-and-Attention/Articles/2013/The-Cocktail-Party-Problem
We’ll drink to that!
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15. Trait 3:
Good active listeners use small verbal interjections while listening.
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16. While not an interruption, small, simple verbal
responses help keep the conversation flowing.
They are the equivalent of saying “Yes! Tell me more!”
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17. Good verbal interjections include:
“Yes!”
“Right.”
“MmmHmm.”
“Sure.”
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18. Trait 4:
Good active listeners use strong eye contact.
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19. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean staring creepily at the speaker!
It DOES mean you should let your primary focus be the speaker, rather than letting
your eyes wander around the room (or off into space!) for extended periods of time.
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20. Think in terms of three seconds:
Every three seconds or so, refresh your eye
contact with a blink or a quick eye movement.
But remember your PRIMARY FOCUS should be the speaker!

21. Trait 5:
Good active listeners can comment and share when appropriate.
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22. www.ovationcomm.com @OvationComm
Conversations are a two way street. As such, the
listener and the speaker should trade on and off.
That’s what makes things interesting!
Truly awesomely active listeners can relate on-topic and empathize with the
speaker because they’ve heard and internalized the speaker’s message.

23. When it’s the Active Listener’s time to take the
stage, they may share thoughts or stories that start
with:
“That reminds me of the time….”
“I’m so glad you shared that…”
“May I tell you some thoughts that brought to mind?...”
“I hear what you are saying, but I don’t agree. Let me tell you why….”
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24. Awesomely active listening skills improve your communication across the board.
What do you think about that? Go on. We’re listening.
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25. For more totally actionable and completely
doable professional skills content, visit us
at www.ovationcomm.com, or follow us on
Twitter @OvationComm. We’d be pleased
to hear from you. #ForEveryStage
Or why not download
“100 Instant Speech Topics” here?