Empathic Listening: Definition, Examples, and Skills

Empathic listening is a powerful tool that enables you to understand others better by listening to them with empathy and understanding. In this article, you'll explore empathic listening definitions, examples, and skills that will help you to become a better listener. 

Active empathic listening involves focusing on the speaker, paying attention to their words and nonverbal cues, and reflecting on what they say to truly understand their perspective. In addition, critical thinking is an essential component of empathic listening, as it enables you to think beyond the surface level of what someone is saying and understand their underlying feelings and motivations. 

By developing your empathic listening skills, you'll be able to build stronger connections with those around you, whether it's in your personal or professional life.

What is empathic listening?

Empathic listening is a communication technique that involves listening with empathy and understanding to another person's perspective. This approach requires you to be fully present and attentive to what the other person is saying, both verbally and non-verbally. Empathic listening is an active process that involves focusing on the speaker's message and reflecting on their emotions and thoughts.

What is the difference between empathic and empathetic listening?

Empathic listening should not be confused with empathetic listening, which is built on mutual respect and involves feeling and experiencing the same emotions as the speaker. While empathetic listening can be helpful in some situations, it may not always be the best approach, as it can make it difficult to maintain a sense of objectivity and fully understand the other person's perspective.

What are 3 characteristics of empathic listening?

There are several characteristics of empathic listening, but here are three of the most important ones:

1. Active listening

Active listening is a key component of empathic listening, because it requires you to give your full attention to the speaker. This means actively engaging in the conversation, asking questions to clarify any misunderstandings, and providing feedback to show that you're truly listening. Active listening helps to create a safe and supportive environment for the speaker, where they feel heard and understood.

2. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is also essential for empathic listening. It involves evaluating the speaker's words, identifying their underlying feelings and motivations, and reflecting on the conversation from multiple perspectives. This requires you to think beyond the surface level of what the speaker is saying, to try to understand their thoughts and emotions. Critical thinking helps to deepen your understanding of the speaker's perspective and build stronger connections with them.

3. No bias, judgment-free zone

We all have our own biases and judgments that can cloud our ability to truly listen and understand others. To engage in empathic listening, it's important to recognize your own biases and set them aside. This means approaching the conversation with an open mind and avoiding making assumptions or jumping to conclusions. By doing so, you can create a non-judgmental environment where the speaker feels safe to share their thoughts and feelings.

Skills of an empathic listener

The skills of an empathic listener are crucial for creating a supportive and nurturing communication environment at work, especially if you want to build stronger relationships with the people around you.

Here are some key skills that an empathic listener should have:

Reflective listening

Reflective listening is a crucial skill for empathic listening. It involves paraphrasing the speaker's words and reflecting back on what they've said, to show that you've understood their message. This can help the speaker to feel heard and ensure that there are no misunderstandings or miscommunications.

Non-verbal communication

Communication and listening don't only involve what a person says, but also what their body says. Enter non-verbal communication. You have to pay attention to the speaker's body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions. By observing these cues, you can gain a better understanding of the speaker's emotions and thoughts.

Empathy and understanding

Empathy and understanding are the heart of empathic listening. Empathy involves putting yourself in the speaker's shoes and imagining how they feel, while understanding requires you to consider their perspective and thought process. Showing these skills can help the speaker to feel safe and supported. 

Open-ended questions

Asking open-ended questions encourages the speaker to elaborate and provide more detail about their thoughts and feelings, which can help to deepen the conversation and improve understanding.

Patience and tolerance

It can be hard to have patience and tolerance. Let's face it, we all have bad days. However, listening requires a great deal of patience and concentration, especially when the conversation is emotionally charged. By practicing tolerance, you can create an environment where the speaker feels validated.

Examples of empathic listening in the workplace

Being told how to be an empathic listener is one thing. It can be difficult, though, to imagine what it looks like in practice. So, considering how essential this skill is in creating a productive and positive workplace, here are some examples of empathic listening in the workplace:

Employee concerns and feedback

There may be a time when an employee wants to voice their concern or give feedback about a process or situation. For example, if an employee expresses dissatisfaction with their workload, an empathic listener would actively listen to their concerns and consider possible solutions, such as delegating tasks or adjusting deadlines. By showing empathy and understanding, the listener can make the employee feel valued, thereby improving morale and productivity.

Conflict resolution

No matter how hard you try, conflict will always find a way to rear its ugly head. When two employees have a disagreement, an empathic listener would listen actively to each person's perspective, reflect back on their thoughts and feelings, and encourage both parties to come up with a solution together. By fostering empathy and understanding, an empathic listener can help to de-escalate the conflict and find a mutually agreeable resolution.

Performance reviews

Empathic listening is also important during performance reviews. An empathic listener can listen carefully to the employee's concerns, goals, and aspirations and provide constructive feedback that aligns with the employee's needs. This way, the listener can motivate the employee to work towards their goals and increase their job satisfaction.

Key takeaways

By setting aside biases and judgments, actively listening, and demonstrating empathy and understanding, empathic listeners can build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts, and foster a positive workplace environment. Remember, empathic listening goes beyond simply hearing what someone is saying - it involves listening to both verbal and nonverbal cues, reflecting back, and responding in a way that shows genuine understanding and care. As such, it's a skill that requires practice and dedication to master. 

Whether you are a manager, a team member, or simply someone who wants to improve your communication skills, developing the skills of an empathic listener can benefit both yourself and those around you. With the right mindset and techniques, anyone can become a skilled and effective empathic listener.

Recommended reading:

• Factors That Contribute to Happiness at Work — That Don't Include Money

• What Kind of Work Culture Works for You?

• Corporate Culture and How It's Impacted by Leadership Styles