Toronto resident Teja Peltomaa is a longtime volunteer. Having supported the Daily Bread Food Bank and Oakville Animal Clinic, she now volunteers with Kids Help Phone as a crisis text line responder. In this capacity, Teja Peltomaa supports individuals of varying ages via active listening.
Active listening involves understanding what another person is saying, then demonstrating that understanding by restating the speaker’s message and sharing information related to the conversation at hand. It consists of three A's: attitude, attention, and adjustment.
Attitude
Paying attention with the wrong attitude gives the speaker the wrong impression. Instead of viewing the conversation as a waste of time and thereby destroying any intrinsic motivation to pay attention, adopt a positive attitude and be open-minded. Listen to what the speaker says first, and then make up your mind about your personal stance.
Attention
Paying attention is an intentional process wherein you choose to be present and focus on the moment. When you pay attention to a conversation, you are less likely to become bored. This is because the brain processes up to three times as fast as the average person speaks. When you are attentive, you use that extra processing time to mentally summarize what you have heard and distinguish key words that the speaker said.
Adjustment
Flexibility during a conversation is essential for active listening. If a speaker is telling a story or delivering a message quickly and concisely, the speaking style changes. This requires adjustment to remain actively involved in the conversation. As the listener, you must change and adjust your mannerisms to follow the speaker’s train of thought.
Active listening involves understanding what another person is saying, then demonstrating that understanding by restating the speaker’s message and sharing information related to the conversation at hand. It consists of three A's: attitude, attention, and adjustment.
Attitude
Paying attention with the wrong attitude gives the speaker the wrong impression. Instead of viewing the conversation as a waste of time and thereby destroying any intrinsic motivation to pay attention, adopt a positive attitude and be open-minded. Listen to what the speaker says first, and then make up your mind about your personal stance.
Attention
Paying attention is an intentional process wherein you choose to be present and focus on the moment. When you pay attention to a conversation, you are less likely to become bored. This is because the brain processes up to three times as fast as the average person speaks. When you are attentive, you use that extra processing time to mentally summarize what you have heard and distinguish key words that the speaker said.
Adjustment
Flexibility during a conversation is essential for active listening. If a speaker is telling a story or delivering a message quickly and concisely, the speaking style changes. This requires adjustment to remain actively involved in the conversation. As the listener, you must change and adjust your mannerisms to follow the speaker’s train of thought.
