How can we Practice Active Listening?

There are five key active listening techniques. They all help you ensure that you hear the other person, and that the other person knows you are hearing what they say.

1. Pay Attention

Give the speaker your undivided attention, and acknowledge the message. Recognize that non-verbal communication also "speaks" loudly.

• Look at the speaker directly.
• Put aside distracting thoughts.
• Don't mentally prepare a rebuttal!
• Avoid being distracted by environmental factors. For example, side conversations.
• "Listen" to the speaker's body language .

2. Show That You're Listening

Use your own body language and gestures to convey your attention.

• Nod occasionally.
• Smile and use other facial expressions.
• Note your posture and make sure it is open and inviting.
• Encourage the speaker to continue with small verbal comments like yes, and uh huh.

3. Provide Feedback

Our personal filters, assumptions, judgments, and beliefs can distort what we hear. As a listener, your role is to understand what is being said. This may require you to reflect what is being said and ask questions.

• Reflect what has been said by paraphrasing. "What I'm hearing is," and "Sounds like you are saying," are great ways to reflect back.
• Ask questions to clarify certain points. "What do you mean when you say." "Is this what you mean?"
• Summarize the speaker's comments periodically.

4. Defer Judgment

Interrupting is a waste of time. It frustrates the speaker and limits full understanding of the message.

• Allow the speaker to finish each point before asking questions.
• Don't interrupt with counter arguments.

5. Respond Appropriately

Active listening is a model for respect and understanding. You are gaining information and perspective. You add nothing by attacking the speaker or otherwise putting him or her down.

• Be candid, open, and honest in your response.
• Assert your opinions respectfully.
• Treat the other person in a way that you think he or she would want to be treated.

Thank You all very much for your participation, i agree with you Sirs/Madams.

There's an expression: "Listen, don't just wait for your turn to talk." Too many customer service interactions, especially those run by scripts, fail to heed this advice. There are four components to active listening:

Clarifying: Asking questions to make sure you understand a customer's ideas.

Paraphrasing: Rewording what a customer just said to confirm you understand.

Reflecting Feelings: Using phrases like "that must have made you angry" or "you seem pretty excited about that" demonstrates empathy and shows that you're paying attention.

Summarizing: Finishing a conversation with a quick summary of the most important points ensures that everyone's on the same page.

I strongly agree with Vinod Jetley  . I send you my regards sir.

Excellent answers by experts.................. 

1st Step: Try and Implement this with your family members.

2nd Step: Improve it outside / With friends etc.

3rd Step:  Improve while reading articles and see how much you have grasped.

4th Step: Gradually practice it in the Work Place.

By watching Hollywood Movies and listening to English Channels. 

Let the customer to speak and to completely finish what he has got to say, then provide your response. More than that, what you can do is make sure that you’re leaning forward and using your body language to let the customer know that you are completely engaged in the conversation. This will subconsciously allow you to understand and remember more of the details of what you are hearing.

• Consciously schedule or set aside time when you next have a conversation with someone so you will not be rushed or hurried. Be realistic about how long you need and avoid scheduling anything to close to your time with that person.

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  Review what you know about this person and what they are talking about in your head silently while they are speaking. Keep a mental list of things you want to talk about or inquire about when they finish speaking.

   
• 3

  Ensure that you are in a quiet and comfortable area during your conversation. Make sure the person you are talking to is comfortable, and be receptive to the person.

• 4

  Continue to focus on what the other person is saying. Give non-verbal cues for understanding like nodding or, if you don't understand, frowning to help them know if you are understanding what they are saying.

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  Respond to questions if you are elicited to do so. Find a natural pause in their speech to interject and ask them if they were finished before you interrupt.

You need to listen first to the customer always remember the customer is the king. Listen well and response in a polite manner. Make sure the you satisfy the customer. Focus on what the customer is saying and reply appropriately. Build harmonious relationship with your customer. Always remember if you treat you customer well they will come to you and make referrals. Always remember in selling items we sell the same items but the services the we deliver to client is different.