Ever have someone yell at you "You're not listening"; I can hear the young me shouting at my siblings in a bid to be heard! The art of listening. The art of making yourself heard. Today I watched this short video which effectively teaches the active listening skill of 'empathy'.

So what is active listening you might ask? Active listening is about using more than what your ears or hearing picks up as another speaks. Active listening is about hearing the words, understanding the message, picking up on what is expressed and also what is being held back. Active listening is about reading the body language, deciphering the tone of voice and the texture of the spaces.

Active listening requires your attention and commitment to really understand what someone is attempting to tell you. A key or core condition of effective active listening is Empathy. Watch this video and see if you can figure out what empathy is all about. Are you someone capable of empathy? What is your immediate reaction to something you are being told - is it to sympathise or empathise? Ask Yourself: Do I really listen?

RSA Shorts - The Power of Empathy, Published on Dec 10, 2013

"What is the best way to ease someone's pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities" - RSA Shorts YouTube