active listening
Fully present conversation
Active listening is paying close attention to a speaker while signaling engagement through eye contact, nodding, and verbal acknowledgment.
Beyond merely hearing words, it involves understanding the speaker's meaning and feelings, then reflecting that understanding back: Let me make sure I've got this right.
The term comes from psychology and communication training, where it's taught as a skill for therapists, managers, and anyone wanting deeper connection in conversation.
Concentrated attention point
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- eye contactDirect visual connection
- noddingMoving head affirmatively
- presenceState of being somewhere
patience · silence · observation · noticing · alertness · undivided attention · receptivity · attentiveness
Mental comprehension of something
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
- paraphrasingRestating in new words
- summarizingCondensing to main points
restating · reflecting · recapping · grasping · processing · synthesizing · probing · open-ended questions
Concern for others' distress
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- supportiveOffering help and reassurance
caring · nonjudgmental · acknowledgment · affirmation · resonance · attunement · emotional intelligence · perspective-taking
Returned response data
- mirroringReproducing an image identically
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
- affirmingDeclaring something true
- promptingGiving reminders to continue
head tilts · leaning in · facial expressions · body language · echoing · signaling · hmm · uh-huh
focus
Concentrated attention point
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- eye contactDirect visual connection
- noddingMoving head affirmatively
presence · patience · silence · observation · noticing · alertness · undivided attention · receptivity · attentiveness · stillness
understanding
Mental comprehension of something
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
- paraphrasingRestating in new words
summarizing · restating · reflecting · recapping · grasping · processing · synthesizing · probing · open-ended questions · inquiry
compassion
Concern for others' distress
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
supportive · caring · nonjudgmental · acknowledgment · affirmation · resonance · attunement · emotional intelligence · perspective-taking · warmth
feedback
Returned response data
- mirroringReproducing an image identically
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
- affirmingDeclaring something true
prompting · head tilts · leaning in · facial expressions · body language · echoing · signaling · hmm · uh-huh · go on
- empathy trainingperspective-taking
- radio interviewingradio hosts, interview prep, interview questions, follow-up questions, closing remarks
- Attunementempathy, rapport, harmony, resonance, synchrony
- clinical trainingpracticum, internship, internships, clinical hours, supervision
- forensic interviewsforensic interview, witness interview, witness interviews, interview room, interrogation
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
active listeningtuning out
Deliberately not hearing
passive listening · zoning out · ignoring · inattention · half-listening
active listeninginterrupting
Breaking in mid-speech
talking over · monologuing · stonewalling · invalidation · shutting down
active, listening, inactive, activate, inactivity, proactive, deactivate, actively, activated