How to be a better listener

SAMARITANS EXPERTS SHARE TIPS ON OFFERING SUPPORT WITHOUT JUDGMENT.

- BY CAMILLA FOSTER

WHEN someone is going through a tough time it can be easy to jump straight into problem-solving mode, but sometimes taking a moment to pause and properly listen can be more beneficial.

Here Lucia Capobianco, learning and development consultant at the Samaritans, offers some of her top tips on improving our listening skills.

Why is being a good listener vital?

“I think it is a wonderful way of building connection. If you're a good listener, people love to talk to you because they know that you will listen, you will understand, you will give them time,” explains Lucia.

The Samaritans charity believes listening can be a matter of life or death.

Listening rather than offering advice

“You often give advice based on what you would do, what you would think, and that may not be appropriate for the person,” says Lucia. “It's much better to listen and encourage them to make their own decisions.

“It’s much more powerful to say, what do you want to do? How are you feeling about it? Because that helps keeps that conversation going and will help them open up more.”