Psychologist offers guide to improve listening skills

Psychologist Robert Biswas-Diener believes listening is a skill everyone can improve. He co-authored a new book called "Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection" with professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh. Biswas-Diener, who admits he is not a natural listener, aims to help readers learn how to listen better. Listening is important for building relationships, managing conflicts, and influencing others. Biswas-Diener offers a simple three-step guide to enhance your listening skills. First, he suggests listening with the aim of validating the speaker's feelings instead of comparing experiences or giving advice. Focusing on the emotions expressed can strengthen connections. Second, he advises knowing the purpose of your conversation beforehand. This focus helps to highlight what's important. If a person repeats certain points, it may indicate they do not feel heard. Paying attention to these cues is essential. Finally, asking questions can show you are engaged in the conversation. Questions can encourage more discussion and steer the direction of the talk. However, not all questions are helpful. Some may even turn people off. With practice, anyone can become a better listener, according to Biswas-Diener.