Practicing active listening

Active listening means focusing fully on what someone is saying instead of thinking about what to say next. It helps you catch details, understand context, and notice emotions behind the words. When you listen in this way, people feel heard and respected, which makes communication smoother and more honest. In stakeholder work, this can prevent small misunderstandings from growing into conflicts.

Here are a few simple ways to practice active listening in everyday conversations:

• Keep your attention on the speaker.
• Avoid distractions and maintain eye contact if possible.
• Use small verbal signals like “I see” or “That makes sense” to show engagement.
• Paraphrase what you heard in simple words to check understanding.

For example, you might say, “So you’re concerned about the project timeline, right?” This confirms that you understood correctly and gives the other person a chance to clarify or expand. Over time, these small habits help build stronger trust and cooperation across teams.