Listening mindfully

Reflective pause:

How often do you practice mindful listening, where you fully engage with others’ perspectives and emotions without judgement or distraction?  How does this practice contribute to my relationships and understanding?

Effective communication is essential for fostering a culture that promotes a growth mindset and continuous learning. It has been estimated that the average person remembers only about a quarter of what has been said immediately after a conversation (Shafir, 2003).

Mindful listening is the foundation of effective communication and learning. By minimising the distraction of our own thoughts, mindful listening enables us to truly absorb and retain information shared by others.  Moreover, mindful listening – listening without judgement, criticism or interruption – cultivates a sense of understanding and validation for the speaker. 

Listening more mindfully

• Be fully present: Focus on the person you are listening to, minimising any disturbance. During remote meetings resist the temptation to multitask, and instead dedicate your attention solely to the conversation in hand. Before the meeting begins, take a few moments to clear your mind and prepare yourself to fully absorb the other person’s perspective. Considering practicing relaxation techniques, such as the breathing exercise recommended in FWB1 Safe and Secure (Quick Win) to help you stay focused during the forthcoming conversation.

• Cultivate empathy: Our perceptions of the world are shaped by our unique experiences, beliefs and personalities. It is important to understand other people’s perspectives, even if you do not agree with them, by acknowledging their views.

• Actively listen: This is important for all meetings and professional development opportunities, whether face-to-face, or online. Active listening is more challenging online due to the absence of visual cues that help us understand other people’s emotions and reactions. This makes it easier to lose track of conversational threads and miss key points.

• Listen to your own cues: Be aware of how your thoughts, feelings and physical reactions during conversation can divert your attention from the other person. Past experiences, motives, preconceptions, and negative self-talk can make us focus more on ourselves than who we are talking to. Impatience and frustration, especially when our ‘inner chimp’ emerges (see FWB1 Safe and Secure Core Action), may cause us to interrupt or dominate the conversation. Preoccupation with what to say next can also hinder listening. Switching off your self-view during online meetings can enhance focus and reduce self-consciousness.

• Consider doing mindfulness training: Research with social workers (Kinman et al., 2019) found that a brief mindfulness course improved their listening skills and their ability to discern what people are really saying. It also highlighted benefits such as improved wellbeing, job performance, and work-life balance. Other studies of health and social care professionals found that mindfulness can alleviate burnout and improve retention (Maddock et al., 2023).