A Good Listener can be a Good Speaker, with example

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They found that good listeners are like trampolines, amplifying, energizing, and clarifying the speaker’s thoughts by providing constructive feedback, thus engaging in a two-way conversation. 

This diagram can be represented by the following diagram:

   Speaker

      |

      v

Listener (Trampoline)

      |

      v

   Speaker

An appropriate example can be derived from the four main findings of their research:

Good listening is a two-way dialog where the listener periodically asks questions that promote discovery and insight, challenging old assumptions constructively. This helps the speaker to think deeper and refine their ideas.

Good listeners create a positive experience for the speaker, making them feel supported and confident. They establish a safe environment for discussing issues and differences openly.

Good listening is characterized by a cooperative conversation where feedback flows smoothly in both directions without any party becoming defensive. The speaker feels that the listener is trying to help rather than win an argument.

Good listeners provide feedback and make suggestions in a way that the speaker can accept and consider alternative paths. The skill with which these suggestions are made is crucial for the speaker to perceive the listener as trustworthy and credible.

To practice good listening and improve speaking abilities, one can adopt the following techniques:

Determine the goal of the speaker’s message and evaluate their nonverbal cues to decide when it’s appropriate to respond. Allow for silences instead of rushing to fill them.

Develop presence and engagement with the speaker by practicing active listening techniques, such as summarizing, reflecting, and clarifying.

The “500 Years Ago” exercise helps both the listener and the speaker develop empathy by imagining themselves in someone else’s place, thus improving their communication skills.

The group exercise “Listening Without Trying to Solve” demonstrates the effectiveness of active listening and empathizing instead of focusing on solving the speaker’s problem.

A good listener involves active engagement, building self-esteem, cooperative conversation, and making suggestions in a helpful manner. By practicing these skills, one can not only become a good listener but also a good speaker, as they can better understand, support, and provide constructive feedback to others. 

So that we can say that “A good listener can be a good speaker”