Communication Skills

Active Listening it is called. I'm not too good at it actually. I'm usually thinking while I'm talking. However, there is great value in learning how to listen. When we listen we are wanting to learn what the other person feels about things as well as the content of their speech. If our partner is talking about "what's for dinner" we may want to know how the person feels about the question. Hungry? Angry? Lonely? what is going on? Whatg does the question mean? IF I know that the other person is angry about something, the question may not mean the same thing as if the person had a big snack (like a burger? yummm) just a bit ago and is not hungry at all. So, what is behind the question is as important as the question. So, instead of reacting "How do I know?" or "What do you want?" How about "are you ready for dinner?" Try it before you debunk it. Dr. D.