Active Listening Skills Tip #3: Ask Specific Questions to Clarify
Another way to make sure
we heard correctly and show we are listening is to ask specific questions when
something we heard is unclear. This is not about
saying ” I didn’t hear you. Can you repeat that?” No one wants to
repeat everything they just said. Instead, we want to paraphrase what we
did understand, and then ask a question about what we didn’t understand. It’s always better to
ask questions than to assume that we know what they’re talking about.
Practice: Do not
pretend to understand something when you don’t. You may think you are
saving face or looking smart, but you won’t seem so smart in the long run.
Instead, ask the person to clarify the part you didn’t get, after they
are done speaking.
