January 26th, 2021

How can I develop my listening skills?

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” – Bryant H. McGill
 
This week, we are discussing why LISTENING is so important, and how to improve this skill!
 
In yesterday’s post, we shared part of Jess’s story. Find the rest here…
 
Of course, in the scenario Jess was in, it was clear that her Mum just wanted to help her to feel better. In this case though, Jess knew everything would be ok, but wanted a soundboard to reflect and come to terms with that herself.
 
What could Jess’s Mum have done differently?
 

• Could she have stopped what she was doing and sat with Jess somewhere quiet? This would show she wanted to be there for her…
• Maybe she could’ve asked Jess what she needed right now? This could be empowering for Jess…
• Could she have summarised what Jess said back to her? This can be useful for self-reflection…
• Could she have asked questions based on what Jess was telling her? Like, “what happened?”, “how do you feel right now?” or “is there anything we can do to help you get through this?”
  
  

For more tips, check out our next post where we talk more about how to show a person you are actively listening.
 
If you are a struggling parent/carer, we are currently offering free consultations. Please contact us when you feel ready. 

If you feel in need of support or specific advice, please get in touch. 
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How else can HappiMe help you or your child? We offer targeted coaching programmes, which can be really useful for supporting you to develop more helpful thinking patterns. Find out more here.