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Good listening skills are essential to effective research teams.  They help to ensure that good ideas are heard, that team members views are taken account of, that quieter members are encouraged to contribute and that colleagues feel valued. 

Active, or attentive, listening is a skill that can be acquired, however it needs to be worked at and practised.

The tips below will help develop attentive/active listening skills:

• Active listening does not mean passively hearing what the other person is saying. Without active listening, communication does not exist.
• Keep an open mind, do not be judgmental or critical of the speaker.
• The speaker will know when you are listening if you look them in the eye, nod approvingly and lean forward slightly towards them.
• Show genuine interest by keeping an open, rather than a frowning or forced, facial expression.
• Be aware of your own non-verbal communication behaviour.
  Allow time for the speaker to speak, do not interrupt, even if there is a silent pause – this indicates that the speaker is thinking.
• At appropriate times, paraphrasing can be used to show that you have been listening to what has been said. It also give the speaker the opportunity to correct or clarify mistaken interpretations or reflect on what they have said.
• Beware of using leading questions, they may lead in the wrong direction!
• Seeking clarification with genuine interest will also let the speaker know you are listening to what is said eg ‘Would that mean that …’, ‘Are you saying that …’, but take care you do not come across as superior or leading.
• If a speaker is shy or hesitant, and it is clear they are not thinking something through, prompts such as ‘What happened then?’ or ‘Tell me more about …’ will show you are still being attentive.