Active and Reflective Listening Practice

Active and reflective listening is one of the most transformative skills in communication, but it requires deliberate practice.

This exercise is designed to help you develop the ability to listen not just with your ears, but with your full attention, focusing on truly understanding the other person rather than simply waiting for your turn to speak.

By practicing this technique, you will be able to reduce misunderstandings, foster empathy and strengthen your bonds in a meaningful way.

Goal of the Exercise

The objective of this activity is to improve your ability to listen attentively without interrupting or judging, and to learn to mirror what the other person is experiencing to ensure a deep and accurate understanding of their thoughts and emotions.

Practice Instructions

Step 1: Find a Partner and an Appropriate Time

Find a trusted friend, family member or partner who is willing to do this exercise with you.

Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes in a quiet place where you can talk without interruptions. Decide who will speak first and who will listen.

Step 2: Listen Without Interrupting

The listener must commit to not interrupting under any circumstances.

Your only task is to concentrate fully on what the other person is saying, rather than formulating your response in your head.

Pay attention not only to the words, but also to the tone of voice, facial expressions and emotions you can perceive behind the message.

Step 3: Paraphrase and Reflect What You Have Heard

Once the speaker has finished, your job as the listener is to repeat in your own words what you understood from their message, making sure to capture both the facts and the feelings.

The goal is to verify your understanding and demonstrate to the other person that they have been heard.

You can use phrases such as:

"What I understand is that you are frustrated about this situation at work, is that correct?". "So, if I understand you correctly, you are feeling overwhelmed by everything you have to do and it's causing you a lot of stress, is that right?".

Step 4: Final Reflection

After you have both had a chance to be the speaker and the listener, take a moment to reflect together on the experience.

Ask each other the following questions:

• For the listener: How did it feel to listen without t