Which statement best defines active listening?

Which statement best defines active listening?

• A. Active listening is waiting to speak; Techniques: interrupt frequently.
• B. Active listening is reading the speaker's mind; Techniques: guess thoughts.
• C. Active listening is giving full attention and confirming understanding; Techniques: paraphrase what the speaker said; maintain eye contact and nod to show engagement.
• D. Active listening is ignoring nonverbal cues; Techniques: avoid eye contact.

Answer: (C)

Active listening is giving full attention to the speaker and confirming your understanding of what they mean. It means focusing on the message, not planning your reply while they’re speaking, and using concrete techniques to show you’re truly following along. Paraphrasing what the speaker said helps you verify you’ve captured the meaning, while maintaining steady eye contact and nodding signals engagement and attentiveness. This combination makes the speaker feel heard and helps prevent miscommunication. Other approaches fall short because they undermine listening: interrupting frequently breaks the flow and signals you’re not really listening; trying to read thoughts or guessing what the speaker thinks isn’t reliable and can be disrespectful; ignoring nonverbal cues and avoiding eye contact misses important signals and feedback that are part of the message.

Active listening is giving full attention to the speaker and confirming your understanding of what they mean. It means focusing on the message, not planning your reply while they’re speaking, and using concrete techniques to show you’re truly following along. Paraphrasing what the speaker said helps you verify you’ve captured the meaning, while maintaining steady eye contact and nodding signals engagement and attentiveness. This combination makes the speaker feel heard and helps prevent miscommunication.

Other approaches fall short because they undermine listening: interrupting frequently breaks the flow and signals you’re not really listening; trying to read thoughts or guessing what the speaker thinks isn’t reliable and can be disrespectful; ignoring nonverbal cues and avoiding eye contact misses important signals and feedback that are part of the message.