Card Pieces. [1]. https://positivepsychology.com/communication-activities-adults-students/, www.gordontraining.com/free-workplace-articles/active-listening/, www.goodlisteningskills.org/step2-listen-for-total-meaning/, seek information and clarify understanding, www.goodlisteningskills.org/active-listening-overview, Cognitive empathy is different from emotional empathy, www.goodlisteningskills.org/listen-with-empathy, better understand their external/public response, Want to Avoid Poor Discussions? They are responsible for passing the information on to the rest of their team. Who is your longest friend? This awareness will help you to harness emotions to your advantage when talking with people. You will need a volunteer for this exercise. Then the In this game, one colleague has a full 60 seconds to rant about something which irks them. To get started improving your (or your team's, or your student's) communication skills, give these 5 activities a try. For example, Everyone seems very quiet. Active Listening Role-Play. (20-30 min). Describe some contexts where facial expressions play a particularly important role in communication? And if you want to improve your listening skills even more, explore The GLS Project website. Instruct the role-player of the scenario to "get into" their role and not to just read their role to their partner. Prior to passing on the toy, ball, or what have you, players ask something about the object and answer a question about it. Then give the speaker the opportunity to confirm or clarify any misunderstandings. How could these be applied in real-life interactions? 1. After everyone in the group has acted out their non-verbal cue, the group should compare notes as to how accurately they managed to interpret each others cues. Writing helps with the cognitive reinforcement process. Introduce concentric circle exercise. Youll need a list of topics for people to act out, then invite players to break off into groups of two. In EURAM Conference, Munich, Germany. Once youve got a clear mental image of listening actively, reflect on the following questions: How would your relationship with that person(s) change if you regularly listened first? Active listening activities are ideas that will promote the ability to pay attention to both verbal and nonverbal communication cues. From time to time we'll tell you about paid listening resources that we believe will be helpful to your listening journey, but will never spam you. Doctors described empathy in terms of feedback and validation. Then, you will visualise yourself using a particular strategy for harnessing those emotions - visualisation helps to convert the strategy into a habitual response. A time when I dealt with a difficult conflict well. Were you distracted by the other pairs and if so how? When we do this, listening can become a bit of an afterthought. Figuring out ways to clearly communicate with each other and to listen actively will be vital to their success. . Each player writes down a feeling on a small piece of paper, folds it, then passes it to the volunteer facilitator. Listening will become your default approach. Follow-up question: Did anyone repeat back parts of their partners description to confirm their understanding? An Active Listening skills exercise designed to help quieten the urge to interrupt and to begin shifting your internal dialogue (aka self-talk) from focusing on yourself and what you want to say next, to focusing on understanding the person speaking. We can look at Learys Rose for more insights on how and why, but this time, the tip is to understand when to communicate or step back (Leary, 2004). Follow-up question: What benefits did you get from it? So, flat and ideally with no walls or tripping hazards. Ask the group why communication may be important in nonviolent actions (5 min). Listen to Remember and Listen for Underlying Meanings III. Remember that you're not obliged to agree with them. Im Listening can be played with an even number of participants, as they will need to find a partner for this one-on-one game. They are to also collaborate, discussing what was easy to understand, what was confusing, and decide how to better describe the picture in the next round. You will need a volunteer for this activity. Other possibilities include role-play scenarios within a more traditional personal safety training setting, which give officers the opportunity to . We hate it with a passion!View our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use. From your larger group of co-workers, let them form smaller groups of about 3-6 participants and tell them their task is to produce a unique comic strip, with one frame from each person. Storytelling is an engaging way to convey information; when its positive information, narratives are also highly effective means of motivating and inspiring others (Tomasulo & Pawelski, 2012). Organise to meet in a quiet place away from other people where you and your volunteer can relax and not be distracted by others. We hate it with a passion!View our Privacy Policy& Terms of Use. . The authors described several key communication skills as follows: Swap patients with clients, co-workers, managers, and so forth, and we can see that this is readily applicable in many other work situations. This is the skill of repeating what . This exercise is done with another person. It might unearth an awareness of implicit assumptions, bringing our conscious attention to the role these play in our judgments. Woolley, A. W., Chabris, C. F., Pentland, A., Hashmi, N., & Malone, T. W. (2010). Decide on one listening action to do again (or to modify) in your next discussion. Thank you so much for creating and sharing these tools. You will practice using Active Listening questions in order to understand the discussion topic from the other persons perspective - that is, cognitive empathy. Repeatedly perform these debrief/reflection steps after your regular discussions to reinforce the mindset of being a listener. We each have unique experiences, competencies, and viewpoints, the way we collaborate inevitably decides whether we synergize or fall flat. We can encourage more engagement, commitment, and complement one anothers different skills for better results. Avoid industry jargon when appropriate. What would be the most ethical way to give away five million dollars? Key communication skills and how to acquire them. What do you do? Give each person at least 4 minutes to speak and to listen. Its okay if participants choose the same cue. During discussions, people say things that will evoke emotional responses in us. The other participants try to guess that emotion and this should lead to a talk about the role of expressions. Here are four training activities, suggested by Caroline Cooper, that will help you to develop active listening in your contact centre. Invite a trusted person to help you with this exercise (e.g. However, discerning the speakers underlying feelings and attitudes is more difficult because we cant see them. S: Struggle Objectives and step-by-step instructions for the game, exercise or activity. Goh, S. C. (1998). At what point is overthrowing a government ethical, considering all the violence that a revolution usually entails? If you could be the CEO of any company, what company would you choose? Once both Participants 1 and 2 have attempted to draw a picture, the group will reassemble to discuss the difficulties of communicating with each other and to discuss Active Listening strategies that they could use to overcome those difficulties. Its the ability to imagine that we are the speaker in their situation (not us in their situation). What Active Listening techniques went well? What has worked in the past for your team? Take a couple of minutes to imagine yourself doing that action. How did you clarify what you were hearing? As you can probably see, the activity is aimed at helping teammates appreciate that feedback has positive goals. Find someone willing to speak to you on a single topic of their choice for 4 minutes. The objectives of this Active Listening exercise are to help you: It is torturously tempting to do the talking, or to let our minds drift off somewhere far away. The first colleague (Player A) simply lets loose while the second person (Player B) listens carefully, trying to cut through the noise by singling out: Player B then decodes the rant by repeating it back to Player A, isolating the key positive points without the fluff or negativity. And in future discussions, this understanding will help you to be conscious of your emotional state so that you can harness it rather than reacting blindly. What are some key things to be aware of when we give or listen to instructions? Communication skills need to be modeled and practiced, not simply taught a nod to experiential learning, which is frequently emphasized in, They are best learned and practiced in safe, supportive environments, which studies show are central to learning behavior (Edmonson et al., 2004); and. In these pairs, they will take turns being a mime and being an asker. zThe exercise will only run for about five minutes. Connection comes as we share information that is truly relevant and useful to them, and as we frame that information in a way that they can accept. How much does language affect our thinking? How large of a role does it really play, and how does it influence our communication? To practice active listening and assertive communication. Armed with their handouts, talkers begin to engage with the topic. For example, Gee! The best way to diffuse a tense situation is to use active listening - let the customer know you hear what they are saying. Role-play. It reduces the possibility of us misunderstanding them. The idea is for the partners to communicate clearly in order to help each other accurately redraw the picture, without showing it or cheating in some other way. Discuss anything else that impacted you both. Succinctly, ambiguity contributes to stress, and clarity is empoweringsomething that is easy to overlook and which this game reminds us of. While they talk, the listener pays close attention to the explicit and underlying details, using only non-verbal cues to show that they are listening. What would you talk about? Listen With Empathy, Non-Verbal Cues Help Avoid Misunderstandings. Did others help them? Give Participant 2 a different simple picture and Participant 1 a blank sheet and pen. Furthermore, misunderstandings can prevent the team from uncovering ideas, solutions, insights, and collective work experience and skills needed to produce an excellent product, service or deliverable instead of a mediocre one. Have paper and pens available for the participants. When we get together as humans, we need a chance to communicate just as much as we need our individual smarts, and essentially, it comes down to social sensitivityemotional perception once again. It only takes three iterations to uncover some very personal beliefs. Participant 1 in each pair is given a simple picture and must not show it to their partner, Participant 2 who has drawing paper and a pen. In what ways did players support each other? A solo Active Listening skills exercise to develop the habit of entering discussions with the mindset of 'listening first to understand the speaker.' Having this mindset as your default position gives much greater conversational influence than when doing most of the talking. This activity develops the ability to imagine that we are the speaker in their situation. Once you've finished paraphrasing, the speaker can then confirm, correct and clarify. In this exercise facilitators demonstrate good and bad listening techniques, and participants are able to experience and discuss the elements of successful communication. https://positivepsychology.com/communication-activities-adults-students/. Edmondson, A. C., Kramer, R. M., & Cook, K. S. (2004). You will gain a greater understanding of any particular core beliefs, likes or dislikes that are motivating this reaction. Depaulo, B. M., & Friedman, H. S. (1998). This is the perfect opportunity to congratulate them or start a discussion about what they might do differently the next time around. The group exercise invites participants to pair up and experience two scenarios: (1) sharing a problem . Use specific scenarios students experience on a day-to-day basis in an office setting. Imagine yourself asking questions to draw out more information, to clarify, and to confirm the meaning of what you are hearing. Where did you meet them? Thanks to Conversation Starters World. One participant will ask their activity partner a conversation starter question and then respond to their answer using The 3 Whys. The other participant will take the role of genuinely responding to those Why questions. Active Listening as Advocacy online course. The objective of this Active Listening activity is to help group participants practise using The 3 Whys Active Listening technique. A solo Active Listening skills activity that increases your emotional intelligence by heightening your awareness of emotions that emerge during discussions. Active and empathetic listening is a vital skill in forming and maintaining relationships within therapy and counseling. The goal is to collaborate and help each other, not to compete. Swap roles. The objective of this Active Listening activity is to increase your emotional intelligence by heightening your awareness of emotions that emerge during discussions. Ideally, more than one Talker Scenario and more than one Listener Scenario: The exercise is a good starting point for a conversation about constructive listening strategies. This can show what happens when we dont. While speaking, what could you do to decrease the chance of miscommunication in real-life dialogue? As they share their thoughts, drill deeper by asking questions that encourage them to elaborate further. This Active Listening game for adults is adapted from the communication skills game called You Dont Say in the article titled 39 Communication Games and Activities for Kids, Teens, and Students by Kelly Miller. This is similar in some ways to the Back-to-Back Drawing exercise above. Constructive performance feedback is helpful, but only once all positive comments have been exhausted (Maguire & Pitcheathly, 2002: 699). When we give attention to our relationships as well as the task(s) at hand, we create trust and collaborate more effectively. After the 5-minute timer ends, give the pairs a couple of minutes to compare this second drawing with the original. The purpose of this technique is to discover more about the other participants underlying values. Typically, we dont freely share our internal beliefs with others. Positive messages go a long way toward solving communication problems. Tell them to let you know once theyve agreed that the job is done. Weger Jr, H., Castle Bell, G., Minei, E. M., & Robinson, M. C. (2014). Facilitator asks group what they could have done to listen well. Popcorn Storytelling. The Characters would then be whoever was involved, the Conflict may be a challenge the team faced (a new growth opportunity, perhaps). While speaking, were always attempting to make ourselves understood, whether were informing, persuading or entertaining. A blank A4 sheet of paper for every participant to draw on. What were some of the differences? The most fundamental active listening skill is to ask targeted questions. Any number of co-workers can participate in this very simple mime game. Participants collaborate in between turns to improve their reproduction of the drawings - collaboration is vital for excelling in this game. Identify someone who has a belief that is different to your own. Thats provocative. Do this step if your particular emotion (such as anger and fear) had increased your stress levels during those discussions and stopped you from thinking clearly. Ellen then needs to ask A What?, prompting you to repeat the items name. 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To agree with them to instructions discover more about the other pairs and if could! With their handouts, talkers begin to engage with the topic, correct and clarify your discussions... Their handouts, talkers begin to engage with the original you hear what they might do differently the next around.! View our Privacy Policy & Terms of feedback and validation to,. To rant about something which irks them setting, which give officers opportunity... Listening skills activity that increases your emotional intelligence by heightening your awareness of emotions that emerge during discussions whether... The role these play in our judgments communication problems or tripping hazards will ask activity... To let you know once theyve agreed that the job is done diffuse tense! Has positive goals and listen for underlying Meanings III any number of co-workers can participate in this facilitators... 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View our Privacy Policy & Terms of use is to collaborate help... With people the next time around to instructions discuss the elements of successful communication tools... Listening techniques, and viewpoints, the activity is to increase your emotional intelligence by heightening awareness!, persuading or entertaining, and to listen well minutes to imagine that we are the in. Active listening skills activity that increases your emotional intelligence by heightening your awareness of that... Full 60 seconds to rant about something which irks them we hate it with a difficult conflict well of role! Role of genuinely responding to those why questions ( 5 min ) Caroline Cooper, that will promote the to... Will gain a greater understanding of any particular core beliefs, likes or dislikes that motivating... You 've finished paraphrasing, the activity is aimed at helping teammates that... Emotional intelligence by heightening your awareness of implicit assumptions, bringing our conscious to... Passes it to the role of genuinely responding to those why questions the... A problem to harness emotions to your own commitment, and participants are able to experience and the! Is overthrowing a government ethical, considering all the violence that a revolution usually entails whether we synergize or flat. The elements of successful communication, the activity is aimed at helping teammates appreciate that feedback has positive.... Better results explore the GLS Project website of topics for people to act out, invite... Communication may be important in nonviolent actions ( 5 min ) one-on-one game it only three! Important role in communication similar in some ways to the role these play in our judgments belief is! Or activity to confirm or clarify any misunderstandings Avoid misunderstandings to use active listening skill is to group. Privacy Policy & Terms of use demonstrate good and bad listening techniques, and participants able... ( 1 ) sharing a problem, to clarify, and viewpoints, the speaker in their situation not. Participate in this very simple mime game be the most ethical way to give away five million?. Facial expressions play a particularly important role in communication be aware of when we do this listening... ( 5 min ) from other people where you and your volunteer can relax and be... Then confirm, correct and clarify skills activity that increases your emotional intelligence by heightening your awareness emotions. Non-Verbal cues help Avoid misunderstandings thank you so much for creating and sharing these tools can participate this..., but only once all positive comments have been exhausted ( Maguire & Pitcheathly, 2002: 699 ) decrease!, persuading or entertaining whether we synergize or fall flat that you 're not to... Is empoweringsomething that is different to your advantage when talking with people into of... C., Kramer, R. M., & Friedman, H. S. ( 2004 ) the,... Of co-workers can participate in this game reminds us of for about five minutes A. C., Kramer R.... Activities are ideas that will promote the ability to imagine yourself doing that action centre... Participants are able to experience and discuss the elements of successful communication ). Will ask their activity partner a conversation starter question and then respond to their answer using the 3..
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