Mastering Active Listening and Nonverbal Communication: Tips for Freshmen.
Jul 28, 2024 · 4:00
Transcript
Welcome to "Freshman Success Stories," the podcast where we help you navigate your first year of college with tips, stories, and expert advice. I’m your host, Pooja, and today, we’re diving into two essential skills that will transform your interactions: active listening and non-verbal communication. Whether you're making new friends, working on group projects, or networking for future opportunities, mastering these skills is crucial. Let's get started!
First, let's talk about active listening. Active listening means fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said. It goes beyond just hearing the words—it's about engaging with the speaker and showing that you value their message.
Today, we have Jeff Roman, a professor of communication, to shed some light on active listening. Welcome, Jeff!
Thank you, Pooja! Active listening is about being present in the conversation. It involves nodding, maintaining eye contact, and providing feedback, like summarizing what the speaker said.
That’s great. Can you give us some practical tips for improving our active listening skills?
Tip 1 Make eye contact and nod occasionally to show you’re engaged.
Tip 2 Avoid interrupting the speaker; let them finish their thoughts.
Tip 3 Summarize or paraphrase what they said to confirm understanding.
Next up, non-verbal communication. This includes facial expressions, body language, gestures, eye contact, and even posture. These non-verbal cues can often convey more than words.
We’re going to do a quick role-playing scenario. I’ll be playing a student explaining a problem, and you’ll see how different non-verbal cues can change the perception of the conversation.
(Speaking with arms crossed, avoiding eye contact) "I'm really struggling with my group project."
The closed body language and lack of eye contact might make the speaker feel unheard or dismissed.
(Maintaining eye contact, nodding, open posture) "I'm really struggling with my group project."
Open body language and active engagement make the speaker feel valued and understood.
As you can see, non-verbal communication plays a huge role in how our messages are received. Practice being aware of your own non-verbal cues and how they might be interpreted.
Now, let’s put what we’ve learned into practice. We’re going to do an interactive lesson. Grab a friend or a peer for this exercise.
Choose a topic to discuss. It can be anything—your favorite movie, a recent event, etc.
One person speaks while the other practices active listening and positive non-verbal communication.
After the conversation, switch roles.
Reflect on the experience. How did it feel to be actively listened to? What non-verbal cues were most effective?
For those who may not always have a partner to practice with, AI-generated dialogue can be a fantastic tool. AI can simulate conversations and provide instant feedback on your active listening and non-verbal communication skills.
We’re joined by Liz, an AI specialist, to talk about how AI can help us improve our communication skills. Welcome, Liz!
Thank you, Pooja. AI-generated dialogue can mimic real-life conversations, offering scenarios where you can practice and receive feedback on your responses and non-verbal cues.
Can you give us an example of how this might work?
Imagine an AI bot presenting a scenario where you have to respond to a peer’s concerns about a group project. The AI can analyze your responses and non-verbal cues, offering tips for improvement.
That sounds amazing. Incorporating AI into our practice can provide a safe and effective way to enhance our communication skills.
To wrap up, remember that active listening and non-verbal communication are essential skills for building strong relationships and succeeding both personally and professionally. Practice these skills regularly, whether with friends, through role-playing scenarios, or using AI tools.
Thank you for tuning in to "Freshman Success Stories." Be sure to subscribe and join us next time for more tips and insights to help you thrive in your first year of college. Until then, keep listening, keep learning, and keep connecting!