Have you ever been so angry that you didn’t want to hear what anyone had to say? Or so angry that you just walked away from a conversation?
Maybe the anger was so big, you felt overwhelmed and just had to get out. Or maybe you had reached your limit and knew there was no way to resolve the conflict at that point. These situations are no-win for everyone. The person you walked away from is left feeling angry and ignored, and you’re left feeling the same, and possibly like there was no other way to end the conversation.
But did you know that there is another way? That you can argue constructively, through active listening?
What is Active Listening?
Active listening is basically what it sounds like: listening with intent and purpose. When you actively listen, you show the other party that you’re paying attention, that you’re really hearing what they’re saying, and that you want to know what they have to say without judgment.
You’re probably wondering, how can that help when I’m spittin’ mad?
By actively listening, you have the opportunity to practice self-awareness. You can stop, actively listen to what you’re thinking and feeling, and understand what caused the conflict in the first place. Being able to tell the other party what upset you is huge! It allows you to have a constructive conversation, where you can use active listening to hear to what they have to say.
By doing this, you often deescalate the conflict. You show the other person that you want to hear them, and this can diffuse both their anger and yours. You can talk out the problem instead of walking away from it. This can lead to finding common ground, or a place where you agree. Sometimes conflicts aren’t even a difference of opinion, they’re just a misunderstanding of what the other person is trying to say.
Build Your Toolbox
Just like with emotional regulation and self-awareness, active listening is one tool that we will equip you with when you use our program. We will practice real-life scenarios, and help you understand how to properly use these techniques so that they benefit you in your daily life. We want you to succeed! We want you to leave our program with all the tools you need to be successful in your life.
Are you ready to take that step? We’re ready to work with you. Sign up with us today.
