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Listening and gathering informationEncouraging an individual to open up and share information about their life can feel like a daunting task, but there are many techniques and approaches to help put people at ease and guide discussions.Active listening: Listening is a vital skill which takes work. Sometimes we hear the words but miss the underlying message. There are a few simple ways to stay engaged with a conversation and improve listening skills. %u2022 Don%u2019t prepare a response internally whilst the other person is still speaking. Something important may be missed. %u2022 Demonstrate listening with body language and occasional responses (e.g. %u201cI see%u201d). A smile and a nod of the head can demonstrate interest in what the person is saying and help to encourage the other person to keep speaking. %u2022 Be empathetic. Phrases like %u201cHow did you feel about that?%u201d or %u201cWhat were you feeling when that happened?%u201d help to build an understanding of how the person is feeling.Ask questions: Avoid questions which invite a yes/no response.To encourage fuller responses try mirroring the person%u2019s language. For example, %u201cYou say you feel concerned?%u201d or %u201cTell me more%u201d.Paraphrase: Repeat information back using your own terms to show you have listened and truly understood a situation.Summarise: At the end of the conversation, it is helpful to summarise what has been said and the next steps that have been agreed with the person.Further resourcescalebstorkey.com/listening-skills-11-steps-to-become-a-good-listener/ thebalancecareers.com/active-listening-skills-with-examples-2059684 9