Soft skills are the ones that enable you to be more compassionate, polite, and thoughtful. These skills are essential for listening skills, and are often forgotten when people learn how to communicate. This skill does not just require listening with your ears. That is a common misconception. Active listening is more about general perception. A professional uses this skill to take down as much information as possible from the various ways that their conversation partners express their thoughts, such as body language, and potential implications by being critical. It's about being active and taking initiative in conversations. This skill can be used by sales professionals to convince customers to buy their products, and possibly even convert them into permanent buyers. This training course is designed to teach participants body language, constructive criticism and questioning techniques. It also teaches them how to think critically and other topics that will help them be active listeners, and thus secure their customers' trust.

It will take practice and time to become an active listener, but it will pay dividends in your professional life. This training course can be complemented with additional training courses that are tailored to your team's needs.

Active Listening Outline

Lesson 1

Course Overview
Learning Objectives
Personal Goals

Lesson 2

Defining Active Listening

What is Active Listening?
Listening Techniques
How to identify a good listener
Tips to Become a Better Listener

Lesson 3

Attitude Is Everything

Body Language
Understanding sympathy and empathy
The Right Mindset
Being authentic
Connecting

Lesson 4

Encouragement Conversation

Communication Process
Asking Questions
Probing Techniques
Paraphrasing Techniques

Lesson 5

Building Relationships

Building Rapport
Tips and Tricks
Match/Mismatch

Lesson 6

Getting Over Listening Roadblocks

Common Listening Problems
Solutions to Problems
Connecting

Lesson 7

Workshop Wrap Up

Action plan
Recommended Reading List
Course Evaluation
General Evaluation

Contact the host of Active Listening Training