Active listening

Active listening is a key component of coaching, as it allows the coach to fully understand the story that an individual is telling and provides them with an opportunity to think more deeply and effectively.
 
Active listening involves actively engaging in verbal communication by repeating back what the speaker has said, asking questions for clarification, acknowledging the speaker’s feelings and providing silence and space for the speaker to explore their thoughts. Coaches use this technique to ensure they are accurately understanding what someone is saying, as well as building trust with an indvidual.
 
For example, if someone were talking about feeling overwhelmed with their current workload at work or home life, a coach might repeat back something like “it sounds like you’re feeling overwhelmed right now with the amount of work you have to do.” 
 
By repeating back what the individual is saying, it allows them to affirm their thoughts and feelings and can provide a sense of comfort in knowing they are being heard.
 
By actively listening to their clients, coaches gain a greater understanding of their background, goals and motivations. 
 
This helps the coach to create an effective coaching plan that works for the person specifically and not everyone else. 
 
Active listening also gives the individual an opportunity to re-hear their own thoughts out loud, allowing them to re-think or make proactive decisions about how to move forward. 
 
This helps clients to gain clarity on their thoughts and feelings, providing them with the confidence to take action and make positive changes in their life.
 
Overall, active listening is an important skill for coaches and managers to develop as it allows them to better understand the full story and provides opportunities for improved thinking.